Department of Redundancy Department: Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pie

Pi, is, of course, a useful tool in math – but a Raspberry Pi is a useful tool in all kinds of ways.  We are delighted to own a Raspberry Pi – which is sort of like the Naked Mole Rat of computers: it's a credit-card sized DIY PC, without any unnecessary parts like a case, monitor, keyboard, etc. designed to teach kids to become programmers and work with hardware as well as software.
You can even use a Raspberry Pi to calculate Pi by utilizing the excellent MIT instructional program Scratch.
So, in honor of Pi Day…we bring you…the Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pi, made from phyllo dough, a raspberry cream custard, and a kiwifruit coulis.  Here's how we did it:

Step 1: Creating a model

This part was easy – because I have an extremely smart partner!  Sparky built a LEGO replica of the Raspberry pi to use for molding chocolate, making it Pop-Pastry sized.  It helps that he has a nearly limitless supply of legos of all shapes and sizes – and that he has the capacity to imagine what a lego pi would look like.Department of Redundancy Department Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pie

Step 2: Creating the filling and preparing the pastry

This part was relatively simple.  You will make four toaster pastries out of this recipe.
12 oz raspberries (fresh are better, but you can use frozen)
1 egg
4 oz cream cheese (we use Neufchatel)
1/3 cup vanilla sugar
3 tbsp Wondra flour
Blend together the egg, cream cheese, vanilla sugar and flour.  Add the raspberries, mashing them slightly to release their juice.  Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Ingredients
1 package “thick” phyllo dough
2 tsp flour
2 tbsp water
Cooking spray
We created a lego “mold” to make sure our toaster pastries were the right size.  Each pastry used 1 1/2 full sheets of phyllo, each sheet divided in half.

Step 3: Assembling the Pastry

Lay your first sheet inside the mold and gently wrinkle it until it fits inside the corners.  Spray generously with cooking spray. Lay the second sheet of phyllo crosswise to the first and spray.

Step 4: Finish, fill and bake your pastry

Lay the third sheet crosswise across your pastry and spray with cooking spray.  Fill the indentation of the mold with raspberry filling.
Fold up each sheet in on itself and glue with the flour-water mixture.  Place seam-side down on a baking sheet that has been well-sprayed with cooking spray.  Continue until you have 4 pastries.  Spray the tops with baking spray.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven until the pastries puff slightly and the tops are golden brown, about 20 minutes.  Cool thoroughly.Department of Redundancy Department Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pie schematic

Step 5: Mold your peripheral ports from ganache

Mold Your Peripheral Ports From Ganache

While you are waiting for your pastries to cool (or you can freeze your pastry and do this part the next day) make your chocolate ports.  We first tried molding the entire replica in brown sugar covered in flour as shown – but unfortunately the ganache just soaked it up and became impossible to remove.  So we tried doing each piece separately in a small amount of flour, and then carving the flour off after the ganache hardened.
6 oz chocolate chips
1 tbsp cream
Flour and two small cups that nest.
Pour the flour into a small cup and tamp it down.  Put the lego piece in the flour, and gently tap it until it is level with the surface of the flour, then press the whole thing with the second cup until the flour is well-packed.  Gently pull the lego piece out with tweezers and put the whole thing into the freezer so it is chilled before you add chocolate (be gentle or it will collapse!)
Over a double boiler, heat your chocolate and cream, stirring gently until you have a glossy liquid.  Pour this carefully into your mold and return it to the refrigerator.  Once the chocolate on the top has hardened, you can remove it with a fork (it will be covered in flour) and return it to the refrigerator until completely hardened.
Once the chocolate is out of the mold, repeat with other parts of your model.
After the chocolate has hardened, scrape off the flour using a sharp, thin knife.  Cut off any excess ganache at this time.  Return your chocolate to the refrigerator.  Repeat until you have a model of all the peripheral ports

Step 6: Make Your Kiwi Coulis

Simply blend a kiwi in the blender with 2 tbsp powdered sugar.  Thinly slice a second kiwi for garnish.  This will provide the “look” of a green circuit board.

Step 7: Assemble

Assemble

Using melted chocolate and your model as a guide, “glue” the chocolate parts to one of your pastries.  Cut a raspberry in half and place it where the logo is on the original Raspberry Pi.  With a small, thin spatula, spread your kiwi coulis around the chocolate, using a chopstick to spread it around the chocolate peripheral ports.

Place bits of thinly sliced kiwi in the large spaces between your peripherals to really make the green color “pop.”

Using melted chocolate in a pastry bag, “draw” power and USB cords on your plate.

Step 8: Happy Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day!

Source: Department of Redundancy Department: Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pie


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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