Justice of the Pies: Sweet and Savory Pies, Quiches, and Tarts plus Inspirational Stories from Exceptional People: A Baking Book

by Maya-Camille Broussard

Pies (and tarts, quiches, and more) with a purpose from celebrated Chicago baker and star of Netflix's Bake Squad, Maya-Camille Broussard

"No one understands the power of forging human connection through baked goods better than pie-queen Maya-Camille Broussard. This new classic has me racing to my cupboards to bake something up."--Christina Tosi, chef and founder of Milk Bar

ONE OF THE TEN BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: Simply Recipes
ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: Bon App�tit, Los Angeles Times

In Justice of the Pies, Maya-Camille Broussard shares more than 85 recipes for sweet and savory pies and other mouthwatering creations that put her social mission-based bakery on the map, including her famous Salted Caramel Peach Pie and Brandied Banana Butterscotch Pie, as well as hearty renditions like the Fig + Pig Quiche and Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Cherry Tart. Maya-Camille also tells the stories of heroes outside the kitchen: luminaries who strive for social justice and equity, and shares recipes they've inspired. Maya-Camille's bakery was launched in honor of her father, who was a criminal defense attorney and had a deep love of baking pie. Through her bakery she proves that good work and delicious decadence can go hand in hand.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, Foodie

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2022

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and touching narratives accompany a thoughtful and tempting variety of recipes. This is a book to treasure and read as much as it is a resource for the home baker.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how Camille-Broussard included some awesome people doing awesome things as part of this book. Hence the ‘justice’ part. All of her pies sound so yummy but I only found a few recipes that I felt bold enough to try: raspberry whoopie pies and the cheddar chive biscuits. I would like to try one of her pies but the pie fillings themselves feel above my baking skillz. Perhaps I need to just jump in and give it a go!

[J C0llier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to say this is really a 3.75. Her story and reason for writing the book is great. This probably would have been great as a tv or youtube series so I could see the recipes in action. I might try a few soon but just wasn't intrigued to make any while reading it.

[Kasey Stoudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas gift from one of my closest friends! This caught my eye while wandering a bookshop on Valencia Street in the Mission district of San Francisco. I remember being glued to these pages while drool oozed unconsciously from the corners of my mouth. The best thing I've made so far is the Lemony Chicken Leek Pot Pie, but adapted into a soup. I made this with my mom when she came to visit me for a night. She took a plane to be with me for less than 12 hours when I had a minor oral surgery and wanted comfort and company. The taste of the soup brought me back to childhood; it felt like being under a warm blanket after school on a rainy day at my Granny's house, curled up with her dachshund and watching a movie with my grandpa. Yes, it was that good.

This has a knockout collection of recipes that are original, innovative, tantalizing, exciting, classically reimagined. Broussard displays her pie prowess throughout these pages, and the inspirational stories and eye-popping photography thrown in the mix only add to the appeal. If you're a baker, get this cookbook.

[Kerry Croucier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been a fan of traditional pies. The crust has always been too much for me, but I love fillings, and I love pies with other types of crusts. Maya-Camille Broussard may just convert me to a lover of all things pie. In her cookbook, JUSTICE OF THE PIES, she covers everything from sweet to savory, with all types of crusts, with step-by-step instructions for everything from the fillings to the crusts, to toppings. I never expected to find a section of whoopie pie recipes along side her non-traditional flavor combinations: dark chocolate cherry crumble pie (chocolate and cherries, Yummy!) and chocolate + bacon bourbon pecan pie (yes, please!). The savory recipes are a combination of those with traditional crust, biscuits, and mashed potatoes. Tarts, quiches and pot pies, shepherd’s pie, step-by-step instructions for the toppings and sides, and different crust options, as well as the recipes to make ingredients like graham crackers and ginger snaps for their respective crusts. The biscuit recipes will go into constant rotation. Not only does the cookbook include beautifully photographed and diverse recipes, but Broussard has also included stories about people that are inspirational in their work for social justice. Creative and visually stunning, this cookbook belongs on your frequently used shelf.
Thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#JusticeofthePies #Maya-CamilleBroussard #clarksonpotter #allthingspie

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wary of the inspirational cookbook, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Maya-Camille Broussard does a good job of sprinkling several short vignettes about people doing good work throughout the book and then tying it back to cooking with a recipe inspired by their goodliness.

More importantly, the recipes are well crafted and written so that cooks at any level should be able to follow the instructions, even for the more complex ones. There are a good number of color photos showcasing the finished dishes and her use of ingredients is creative. I look forward to trying my hand at the Deep-Dish Chilaquiles Quiche, the Sweet Potato Cornbread, and the author's favorite, Sweet Potato Praline Pie. After reading this book, I can fully understand why her pie business is a success

The author's personality shines brightly through her headnotes and I enjoyed reading them, particularly the one about brussel sprouts that caused me to laugh out loud (usually it's only the terribly written cookbooks that evoke laughter). If half stars were an option, I'd have rated it 4.5 stars, deducting only half a star because some recipes call for pans one might not have readily available in their cabinet.

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so much more than a cookbook about pies. It’s beautifully illustrated with huge pictures of yummy savory or sweet pies. Then the author writes about her family and why she’s creature in this particular Avenue. After each delicious-looking pie recipe or two, she includes a write up about a phenomenal person that has done something great. Not only is it super yummy but so beautifully inspirational! I want all the piiiiiies. Ooh! The author created actual step-by-step pics of what each step of the pan looks like when you go through a several-step process of cooking something. That helps SO much and is missing in a lot of cookbooks. She does this with her biscuit recipes as well.

I don’t buy a lot of books but I would definitely buy this for how pretty it is and how useful it will be.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous book about community and food with a range of sweet and savory recipes. Many recipes are inspired by and dedicated to a range of exceptional people who have profoundly changed their community and are changing the world with their work. Their stories are inspirational, and the sense of community is deeply important as a theme on every page. The photos and illustrated portraits peppered throughout are wonderful. It’s a beautiful book and I can’t wait to try all of these recipes! So far the Chicken pot pie and biscuits are a hit. Many of the recipes offer some amazing comfort foods, ideal for holidays and winter in the Midwest. It’s also makes a great gift for the baker or foodie in your life!

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like what i see of this book
something between okay and great

but i've noticed a few people having trouble with the recipes
but more worrying are missing steps in some of the procedures and possible errors in measurements

---

Amazone

Poor editing
4/10

The recipes are alright. Sometimes a bit funky, but alright. However, there are many many missed details in the steps. Also I've encountered a few recipes where more than likely they meant to say teaspoons and instead it called for tablespoons. Overall, I would not recommend to a friend

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The savory pies look good. I have to ding it one star because there aren't pictures of each item. I do like to know what I'm cooking looks like. I do have to say that this book has a lot of recipes require you to flip back and forth to other pages. This is rather cumbersome way to cook a recipe. It looks like you could spend hours on one recipe.

[May-Ling · Rating 2 out of 5]

not for me - everything feels a bit too controlled and contrived for my tastes, from the fancy clothes she's obviously not cooking in to the process involved with many of the recipes to the vignettes of people that felt oh so shiny. I love pies and this is definitely for someone more advanced in the kitchen and looking for pretty food.

[Caroline Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by far one of the more unique cookbooks I've come across. And I have to say, I'm glad it exists, turns out I do like my pie recipes served with a side of stories about people fighting for social justice. My favorite recipes were the toppings, jams, and honey in the chapter at the end of the book.

[Davenportbh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! There are cookbooks you get from the library and there are cookbooks you purchase and this absolutely falls in the later category. I marked over fifteen recipes to try and the artwork and narratives added to the overall tone and message. 10/10 and cannot wait to try the recipes.

[Selena Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal

This made me way too confident in my abilities but also this is an amazing book. I loved hearing about the people these were based on and their amazing organizations.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars... this is one I'll check out from the library every once in awhile, maybe. the recipe with the weed butter was interesting....

I need to remember to come back for the espresso lemon pie, lavender lemon pie, and b sprouts and cherry tart.

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavishly illustrated, lovingly written, beautiful and inspiring. And that's after you get through all the pies. Amusingly titled, after her shop, and full of sweet and savory pies. The cover grabbed me, but the contents lived up to the cover.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the illustrations and the stories about various chefs throughout the book. Beautiful photography. I'm looking forward to trying a few of the recipes.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to take it back to the library, but this book is full of great sounding recipes very carefully written, interspersed with stories of exceptional people. Outstanding book!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

These recipes are so creative and packed with flavor. I need to buy a copy for myself.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some lovely photography and nice anecdotes but a little too much quiche going on in this pie book!

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous photography and some very intriguing flavor combos.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gourmet pie recipes (many admittedly beyond my skill level but still look delicious) and bios of social justice warriors.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the vignettes of real people doing real good work in the world. The recipes all seem so delicious!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

KSKS