Monday, June 15, 2020
Final Pie Week!!
I like pie.
I like pie! I mean, I REALLY like pie. I even have a shirt that says "I like pie." That's how much I like it. I love to celebrate Pie Day. I'm not talking about Pi day. I don't like Pi and I don't want to celebrate that day. National Pie Day is January 23. 1/23. It's as easy as 1,2,3...get it? Easy as pie.
The year I turned 40, I decided to try out 40 different pies before I turned 40. It was such a fun experience. It took me all over the United States. I had pie in Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, and Utah. My absolute favorite from that experience was Shoo-fly pie from the Amish Country in Pennsylvania. Amazing pie. I recommend it to everyone.
Yesterday, I turned 44. Not a big milestone but, in one year I will be 45! That is a HUGE milestone to me. That means if I live to be 90, I will be half-way there. Or if I live to 80, I'm already over half-way. It gave me pause to reflect and I decided it was time to get serious about life. I'm ready to try new pie!
So, here I start again. 45 different pies before I turn 45.
Zane and I were in New Orleans over the weekend to celebrate my birthday and I kicked off my new quest. It is going to be difficult to top because this was AMAZING pie. We went to Emeril's and tried his original and famous banana cream pie...oh...my...goodness...it was heaven! I couldn't resist waiting for that first bite and I apologize to our server for stabbing him with my fork. Seriously, how long does it really take to put a plate of pie on the table? He was taking forever! It was worth the wait...and the injury to the waiter. DEE-VINE!!
Pie #1 (Banana Cream pie- Emeril's New Orleans)
The next day we took a trek out to the Oak Alley Plantation about 1 hour west of New Orleans. We had lunch in their cute restaurant (I recommend the Gumbo). For dessert, they brought out a delicious piece of Buttermilk pie. Oh...the memories of cutting into that crusty cinnamon topping and savoring the creamy, delicious flavor. I ate this one too fast to get a picture but it definitely made my list.
Pie #2 (Buttermilk Pie- Oak Alley Plantation, New Orleans)
So two down, 43 to go. I am up for recommendations and I will travel for pie. My only rule: I don't count Marie Callendar's pies. Not because they aren't delicious but I could easily knock out most my list in one sitting. I am looking for the local, unique, award-winning pies of the country. Send your recommendations my way...
Next year...I'll join a gym. :)
Pie with purpose...
Pie #3-
This triple-berry pie made my list for this year. It was really good but the best part about it was the purpose behind it. I purchased it through an online auction for one of my old mission companions. She has twin girls just two weeks older than Jalyn. We lived in Texas at the same time when our girls were born and I have watched them grow up through pictures and sporadic play dates. Her girls are in need of some neurological testing and they had a bake sale to help raise funds. I wish I could have contributed more but any pie with that kind of story will make my list and it makes the pie even more delicious.
Utah Pie Road Trip 2016
Pie #4-7
It was an epic Saturday! I live in the beautiful state of Utah and surprisingly, we have some amazingly delicious pies. My incredible husband suggested we go on a pie road trip to the some small towns to try out the highly recommended options. It was well worth the trip.
We started out at 7am and headed south. Our first stop was Bicknell, Utah, about 3 hours from Salt Lake City and not far from the entrance into Capitol Reef National Park. Bicknell has a famous restaurant called the Sunglow Cafe. They are famous for their unusual pie selections which include Pickle Pie and Pinto Bean Pie. After having breakfast, we chose the pie sampler. It included the pickle pie, the pinto bean pie, the buttermilk pie, and the delicious oatmeal pie. They were all good but the oatmeal pie was my favorite. It tasted just like an oatmeal cookie.
The other pies are worth it! So delicious! I recommend everyone get a taste of the famous pies at the Sunglow Cafe. You won't be disappointed.
Burr Trail Grill- Boulder, Utah
Pie #8-9
We continued our Utah pie road trip and headed south to Boulder, Utah. It is a small town on the Utah Scenic Highway 12 about 27 miles northeast of Escalante. This town wasn't originally on our route but it was recommended to us and I am so glad we stopped. It was my favorite pie of the trip. The Burr Trail Grill is a hip, upbeat environment that specializes in locally sourced ingredients, gourmet burgers, and homemade pies. We were looking for a savory snack to offset our sugar intake but they were out of the fried green tomatoes. We opted to go straight for the pies. The Ginger Berry and the Cherry Spice were divine! It's definitely worth the trip and I will be going back again in the future. Hopefully, the fried green tomatoes will be available, too.
Ginger Berry pie (amazing crust!!)
Cherry Spice (it left a sweet/hot aftertaste that was so good!)
Bryce Canyon Pines - Bryce, Utah
Pie #10-11
Just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park, is a little restaurant with lots of motorcycles parked outside. It the perfect place for travelers to stop and have a bite to eat and a delicious treat. The place was packed with a huge family reunion so we just sauntered up to the bar to get a couple of slices to-go. We asked the waiter for his recommendations and he said we couldn't pass up the Strawberry Banana and the Lemon Raspberry. I was getting a little full of pie and I hadn't had anything savory to counter-balance the sweet. I opted to just take a bite of the pies and save the rest for later. The best part of a pie is the point. I fight for the point. I much prefer the filling to the crust and Zane prefers the crust. We make a good team...and I always get the point. Win-win! These pies were pretty good. Nothing spectacular. I wouldn't go out of my way to have them again. But if you are in the area and you need a fun treat, Enjoy!!
"ho-made" pies in Mt. Carmel, Utah
Pie #12-13
Have you heard of the Thunderbird Restaurant in Mt. Carmel, Utah? It is home of the "Ho-Made" pies. The legend (and history) has it that the restaurant was opened back in the '40's when metals were scarce due to World War II. Scarcity of supplies and the desire to make it sound more welcoming, the founder shortened "home-made" to "ho-made". The present-day connotation of "ho" and the buxom cartoon lady wasn't added until later but they certainly didn't miss a chance to capitalize on the new meaning. We had some lunch while we were there and then took the pie slices to-go. The Apple Pie with Rum Sauce and the Strawberry Rhubarb were recommended. The pictures below don't do the flavors justice. We heated up the pies and sauce at home and they were delicious! The crust was flaky and light. The point was yummy!
