National Pie Day!
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A Celebration of Pie on January 23!
Eating pie is as American as baseball, so it's befitting that we should have a special day to celebrate the beloved pie (and not just the sweet kind) and want to indulge in some on that day!
However, National Pie Day is about more than just yummy pie. It's a chance to exchange favorite recipes, to bake for friends or even with friends, to take a break from a busy day for dessert with loved ones or a lost love, or to rediscover the smells of your childhood.
This January 23rd eat some pie! In fact, share some with a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker or even a stranger because pie is too good not to partake in some at least one day a year, even if it's just a few bites.
Creative Commons pie photo by Maggie Hoffman.
Countdown to National Pie Day
The Historical Truth Behind Pie Day...
and I'm not just filling your dough...
It's amazing where a lack of information will lead a person. In this particular case, it lead me home (I was raised in Colorado) and to the humble beginnings of National Pie Day & the American Pie Council. It was indeed started in Boulder, Colorado by Charlie Papazian, whose birthday is January 23, as a project at the school where he was teaching. His friend and fellow pie lover, John Lehndorff, helped stage The Great American Pie Fest a few years later, was the spokesperson for "Pie Day," and eventually took over as executive director of the original APC in 1996, ten years after it was started and was made into an actual organization at the convincing of some corporations. He left after a falling out over a pie judging that involved one of the first couple National Pie Championships ever held.
Charlie and John just love pie, but more the simple, not too much sugar or fancy stuff, homemade kind, made with tender loving care, not so much the buy it in a box and toss in the oven kind (yes, it takes love to do that too, but it's just not the same thing, you know?).
Now days the American Pie Council holds a festival and contest with corporate sponsors that takes place near Orlando, Florida, in late April. Honestly though, their list of commercial winners make the entire thing seem like something very different from the National Pie Day John that I emailed.
I'd like to think that Charlie, John and all the good folks in Boulder who started out sharing pie won't be forgotten when January 23rd rolls around every year. Hopefully people everywhere will think of them and how they love pie. Good, wholesome, yummy, delicious pie...the way it was meant to be, the way American was founded: with a little determination, hard work, ingenuity, a few fresh ingredients and no one telling us we have to do it "their" way! I think I just heard my oven timer ding; I'd better go check on my pie!!!!
P.S. A big thank you to John Lehndorff for personally sharing some information on how it all began with me! I owe you some pie, good sir!
References not listed:
John Lehndorff
Westword "Slice of Life"
Denver Post "National Pie Day a day to eat, savor and share"
Orlando Sentinel "I Brake For Pie, Said The Crusty Columnist"
After the Meal or AS the Meal?
in other words sweet or savory?
Pie comes in so many varieties is it possible to pick the better type?
National Pie Day Activity Suggestions
makes sure you stretch first, we don't want anyone getting hurt
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1Have pie at every meal or for every meal.
A breakfast quiche (it has a crust, so we'll call it pie for this), slice of pie for dessert at lunch, chicken pot pie for dinner, etc. -
2Host a pie eating contest!
Oh yum! Please invite me if you do this one! -
3Host a pie throwing contest/bake sale! (For charity, of course)
This way you can raise money selling yummy pies and throw pie tins with cheap canned whipped cream at someone to raise more money all for a good cause! -
4Share some pie with someone who is pieless!
Oh, me me me! I'm pieless right this very second! -
5Share some pie with someone you care about!
Isn't sharing nice? -
6Teach someone how to bake your favorite pie!
Oh yes, this is a selfish thing really, because later maybe they will make one for you! muahahahaaaa -
7Play a pie eating game!
Watch a television show or movie or even listen to the radio and every time a particular word is said (pick any word you want) you take a bite of pie. If you play with close friends, everyone can have a different kind of pie and pass the plate each time. Then you get different yummy bites! Oh, can I play? -
8Have you own neighborhood or office pie contest!
Don't forget to make ribbons (or let the kids get involved and let them make the ribbons) for the winners and let everyone enjoy the pies after the judging is done! -
9Have pie races!
Don't ask me, I'm making this up as I go along! It can be whatever you want it to be! -
10Try to beat the world record for the largest baked cherry pie held by Oliver, British Columbia: 39,683 pounds!
Wow, that must have fed their entire town and surrounding area for a week or more!
Don't forget the Cool Whip...
Plain or With a Little Something?
What's the most scrumptious thing to add to a slice of sweet pie or plop down next to it to make it irresistible?
Foolproof Crust
Recipe from from Beryl Jacobson in Westword "Slice of Life" in page 2.
Ingredients
- 5 cups flour
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2 cups shortening at room temperature
- 1 tbsp. vinegar in 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 tbsp. brown sugar
Instructions
1. Stir together flour, salt and baking powder.
2. Cut in shortening until the mixture is the size of peas.
3. Put vinegar in measuring cup and fill to the 3/4 cup mark with warm water. Add brown sugar and stir well.
4. Mix liquids into the flour mixture gradually, using a fork.
5. Roll out on well floured surface to desired thickness.
Nectarine-Blueberry Pie Filling
Recipe tweaked and image from Country Living.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds nectarines
- halved & sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 3/4 cup blueberries
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 tbsps quick-cooking tapioca (ground)
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- Foolproof pie crust (recipe above)
- 1 egg & 1 tbsp milk (beaten together for egg wash)
Instructions
1. Place oven rack in low-middle position and preheat to 450°F.
2. Place nectarines in a large bowl & toss together with blueberries, sugar, tapioca, lemon juice & lemon zest. Set aside for 15 minutes.
3. Roll out two pieces of pie dough to 1/8" thick & about 12" in diameter. Fit one piece onto a 9" prepared pie pan.
4. Drain the excess liquid from the fruit, reserving any for later use if needed, and fill the pie shell. Cover with the second piece, seal and flute the edges. Brush the edges with the egg wash and make a few decorative slits in the top.
5. Bake 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 425° F & bake 25 minutes. (Check half-way through; if edges brown too quickly, cover with foil.)
6. If desired, brush with remaining egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar, and continue to bake until golden brown, about 5 more minutes.
7. Cool before serving.
Oh for the Love of Pie!
some literary help with pies
My Favorite Type of Pie
Please check to see if your pie is on the list before adding!
What type of pie is your favorite? It doesn't matter if it's sweet or savory, add it to the list and see who else agrees! Don't forget to refresh and vote for your pie!
1
Chocolate Creme
4 points
2
Blueberry
2 points
3
Key Lime
1 point
4
Pumpkin
1 point
Pie or ...
What's better...pie or ack something else?
Pie beats the rest because it's the best...
Michey says:
I definitely like pies, easy to make, easy to eat...
goo2eyes says:
i like any kind of pie but most of all, apple pie. got 2 pie lenses, one savory and one sweet..
VickiSims says:
A good pie is hard to beat!
Pastiche says:
I love home made pie, especially on Pi Day (the other one, on March 14, or 3.14 !)
says:
Pie its always pie lol
I like something more than pie and I'll tell you why...
WriterJanis says:
My favorite dessert is chocolate melting cake.
Are you smarter than the pie monster?
that would be me
Just don't forget that I'm a funny pie monster and I will eat your pie if you choose an incorrect answer! Muahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!
Geez, I'm just kidding, you don't have to hide your pie!
Let them eat PIE!!!
well, are you gonna or not?
So how are you planning to celebrate National Pie Day? Have any great ideas you want to share? Come on, I want more reasons to have some pie!
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goo2eyes
Feb 6, 2012 @ 12:30 pm | delete
- i missed this pie day because i arrived from a month-long holiday on the 18th and i had a terrible jet-lag. squidangel *blessings* granted. your lens is simply "divine" and pie with "caramel" topping or ice cream is just heavenly.
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VickiSims
Jan 29, 2012 @ 8:29 pm | delete
- I missed it this year so can I celebrate belatedly? ( I'll put it on my calendar for next year so I won't miss it again.) Great lens and I appreciate the nectarine-blueberry pie recipe which combines two of my favorites so I don't have to choose between the two. ~ blessed
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WriterJanis
Jan 27, 2012 @ 2:59 am | delete
- What a tasty lens!
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MareeT
Jan 23, 2012 @ 11:45 pm | delete
- Happy Pie Day and great lens!
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favored1
Jan 21, 2012 @ 11:10 pm | delete
- I have some fresh apples, so I better get busy. It's 2 days away!
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the sweet variety
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the savory variety
