How to Bake Pi

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I am not a fan of "doing" math.  I enjoyed math up until I got to Calculus in college.  That class was my Waterloo, and ever since then I have never willingly picked up a Math book.  Don't get me wrong - I managed to teach elementary school math, and my kids all had it down cold by the end of the year.  I helped my own kids with math through Algebra 2.  So, I do understand Math, and I am good at it.  I just hate the entire concept of reading higher level math text books.  Since both of my boys are Math majors, I decided I would pick up the book and read it and see if I could grasp a deeper understanding of the higher levels of math.

I enjoyed the fact that the author tied Math into something I enjoy - food.  Specifically, baking.  With the detailed explanation tied into some of the more basic concepts of higher math, I was able to make some connections I had not been able to make before. Unfortunately, once I got to the section on Calculus and smaller and smaller boxes, I just couldn't understand.  It's a mental block that I have, not a fault on the part of the author.

I did enjoy the explanation of Topology, though. My youngest son loved Topology.  This section (for me, the Calculus Dunce) was written in such a way that I understood and enjoyed the information.  While I'll never be able to discuss Topology with him, I now understand his fascination with the topic.  If I had ever been capable of passing Calculus, this is would have been my absolute favorite subject.

If you're looking for a book that puts higher levels of Math on a level that the common lay person can understand.

In the meantime, here's how to bake a pie you can really sink your teeth into:

Apple Pie

2 prepared commercial pie crusts
(What, you expected home made?  Do I look like Martha Stewart?)

7-8 Apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thin pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
2 TBSP butter or margarine

Spray a 9 inch pie pan with cooking spray.
Put one pie crust into the bottom of the pie pan.  Press firmly into bottom and sides.

In a large bowl, gently mix the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

Pour the apples into the pie crust.

Cut the butter into small pieces and put it on top of the apples.

Gently place the pie crust on top of the apples.  Press together the top and bottom crusts of the pie.  Cut several steam vents into the top of the pie crust.  Cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning of the crust.

Bake 40-45 minutes.  Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.