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!
Golden Hills - Mt. Carmel, Utah
Pie #14
Across the street from the Thunderbird Cafe was the Golden Hills restaurant. They advertised pie in their window so we thought we would give them a chance. We came from a packed restaurant to an empty one. That should have been a clue. We should have just turned around and walked out. But I was there. They saw me...I was committed. So we ordered the Banana Cream pie to-go. Not impressed. Banana pudding with some banana slices and A LOT of whipped cream. It was too much sweetness and I wasn't particularly fond of it. I wouldn't recommend it and I wouldn't go back.
Arshels Cafe - Beaver, Utah
Pie #15-16
I didn't get a picture of the cafe and I probably should have. The pie was forgettable so I would need the picture to remind me of where I got the pie. I am not a huge fan of chocolate pies. Most of the time, it seems like chocolate pudding in a crust. I need more effort than that. I haven't had one for this challenge and so I thought I would give it a shot. It was not good. The chocolate pudding was rubbery. The peanut butter crumbles on the bottom were pretty good but overall, it wasn't a good pie. The Apple Cranberry was better but still not a pie I would go out of my way to get again.
We stopped in Spanish Fork on our way back to Salt Lake to share some of our to-go pies with my brother and sister-in-law. They missed out on the beauty of the road-trip but enjoyed the spoils of our labors. It was a fun trip and I am thankful my husband was willing to tag along to help me find good pie. Our next Utah road trip will take us to St. George and Veyo. We hear the pies there are amazing! We shall see...
Boldly Me and pie!
Pie #17-18
I graduated from middle school in June of 1986. Summer of 2016 was the 30 year anniversary of that graduation. I LOVED middle school. I made some of the best friends that have had huge impacts in my life. It was also a growing time for myself as I learned who I was as a person. There were lots of things I didn't like and I have tried to change that in the last 30 years. I reached out to one of my very good friends that I haven't seen since we graduated because we ended up going to different high schools and drifted apart. She is doing an amazing thing with young girls and teens who are struggling with self-esteem. She created a non-profit organization that travels to schools and other locations teaching self-confidence. Her organization is called Boldly Me. She was having an event in California and invited members of our class of 1986 to come and help celebrate. It was such a great event. She is doing amazing things.
While out there, we took the opportunity to find the best pies in the area. We were directed to a small farmer's market in San Ramon called Windmill Farms. They carry locally made pies from The Pie Company made with locally grown fruit. OH MY GOODNESS! They were delicious! We picked up the Nectarine and Peach Cobbler pies. The Peach Cobbler was overly sweet for me because of the crumble topping but the Nectarine was so, so good. Warm it up with a little vanilla ice cream and it is heaven.
Nations Burgers in San Ramon, California
Pie #19-21
Nations Burgers is a pretty popular place in the Bay Area and apparently have pretty good burgers. We didn't stop to try the burgers; we just wanted pie. They have a refrigerated case full of pies at the front of the store. On Yelp! and other internet sites, the pies were lauded as being pretty dang good. It was difficult to pick which ones I wanted because they ALL looked good. We settled on three of them. Coconut Creme, Fresh Strawberry, and the Pumpkin tart. They were all pretty tasty but let me focus on the Fresh Strawberry. It was delicious! I love California strawberries. Some of my favorite memories of California include stopping by many road-side fruit stands and picking up a flat of freshly picked strawberries (along with the cherries...so good!). I wasn't disappointed in this pie. The strawberries were sweet and the cream complimented it well. I would go back to get this seasonal pie. The coconut creme and pumpkin were average. Not bad but certainly not something I would travel out of my way again to get.
Bonefish Grill in Ft. Collins, Colorado
Pie #22
In September, Mariah, Zane, and I drove to Colorado and then on to Wichita. Zane had work in Denver and Mariah and I wanted to see our new baby Bryson born to Jacqui and Brandon. Along the way, we stopped at the new LDS Ft. Collins Temple. It was open to the public and we were able to obtain tickets to the open house. It was beautiful! I love to see the temple and feel the reverence and peace within those walls. One day, Zane and I will be sealed together forever as husband and wife in one of those sacred buildings. For the time being, it was enough to walk through the hallways holding his hand and sharing this sacred moment.
After our tour, we went to lunch at the Bonefish Grill. Not a bad lunch and since we all love coconut, we couldn't pass up dessert. Jen's Jamaican Coconut Pie was one of the best versions of coconut pie I have ever had. It took a lot of self-control to not order another piece. I highly recommend it to anyone if you are near a Bonefish Grill.
Wichita, Kansas
Pie #23-25
After saying goodbye to Zane in Denver, Mariah and I headed to Wichita. It was so fun to see Jacqui, Brandon, and baby Bryson. I am grateful I was able to help out and spend time with such a sweet family.
We did a search of best pies in Wichita and Spears restaurant came up. I have to say...not impressed. We tried the Chocolate Pudding Nut, Blackberry with vanilla ice cream, and Lemon Meringue. I would never go back to this place again. I would go to Village Inn or Marie Callendars' before this place. Skip it if you are ever out there...
I served an LDS mission from 1993-1994 and one of my favorite areas was Wichita. I got to know the Balzer family while serving there. When I left, they had 3 kids, all little. When Mariah and I went to visit 22 years later, they have twelve kids. The baby who's diapers I changed as a missionary was now a return missionary himself. It was so fun to see them. They are an awesome family!
The pie was terrible but seeing this new baby made the trip worth it. Granny DeShelle and Auntie Mariah spoiled him all week. He misses us terribly now!
Homemade pies from the heart!
Pie #26-27
At the end of May, I tried to quit my job. I say tried because they talked me into staying on as a temporary employee to help out and I did that until December. In December, I was hired back as a part-time employee and I am grateful. Our self-employed benefits were not working out and I am so grateful to my employer for providing quality healthcare at affordable prices.
In May, for my going away party, one of my favorite co-workers, Gale, brought pie. Not just any pie. She made my most very favorite pie...Shoo-Fly Pie!! It was delicious. She has never made Shoo-Fly pie before but was willing to make the effort because she knows how much I love it. I work with the best people! She also made Coconut Creme pie. So good! Home-made pies come from the heart. It is a talent I don't have which is why I embark on trips to find the best pies. Through my journeys, the pies made by friends in their kitchens taste the best. It must be that extra ingredient you can only get in your own kitchen...LOVE!
Girls Camp 2016
Pie #28-29
I am the Young Women's president in my ward and each year we take a few days and camp in the mountains. It is dirty and spiritual and the event of the summer. We had a great time as we always do. However, this year had a bonus for me. We made Fire Pies and were treated to a delicious, home-made Key Lime Pie from John Benson. It was epic! Who knew that two pieces of buttered bread with cherry pie filling roasted over a fire would be so delicious? Apply a layer of buttermilk frosting on top and it is pure heaven!
John's Key Lime pie is legendary in our neighborhood and this time at camp was no exception. He does a great job and we were so grateful he not only brought us pie but he cooked us up some amazing brisket, corn, and potatoes. Best night of camp, for sure!
Homemade Goodness!
Pie #30-32
Homemade pie is the best! I know people that have amazing pie-making skills. It is something I lack but I am really good at TASTING the homemade pies. Over the summer, I was lucky enough to try 3 different and delicious pies.
Zane's mom has health issues and is confined to her bed in her home. She has home healthcare workers that come in and assist her with all her needs. One of her workers, Pat, brought in an amazing peach pie made with the peaches from her tree. Look at that cinnamon on the top of the crust! It was delicious and perfect with a dollop of whipped cream on top.
A pear tartlet made by one of my friends and fellow leader in the Young Women's program in my ward, Hannah. Delicious! The pears were picked from the tree that overhangs in the backyard from her neighbors. I used to live in that house and picked many pears from that tree. They were delicious and even better in a tartlet.
The final homemade pie of the year came at our Young Women in Excellence program. Vanesa, one of our advisors, made this delicious lemon meringue pie. The lemons were tart and the meringue was perfectly toasted. It was a treat to enjoy her talents and a delicious add to my pie list. Thanks to all the amazing home bakers with pie talent! I admire you!
Southern Utah Pie
Pie #33-34
When Zane and I did our Utah pie trek back in May, we really wanted to get down to St. George and Veyo. But we were pie'd out and didn't have the time to make it down. In November, my surrogate daughter, Jacqui, was sealed to her husband, Brandon, and baby boy, Bryson. Some of us were able to drive down to attend the sealing and we took advantage of the moment and took a quick side trip to Veyo. It was just Mariah and I since the rest of the family came down later in the week. St. George has a pie place called Croshaw's, which is pretty good. However, Veyo Pies are better! At least the two we tried. They had an amazing Pumpkin pie that was heavy on the nutmeg which is what I like in a pumpkin pie. Then we also tried the signature Volcano Pie. There is a defunct volcano in Veyo and what better way to celebrate it. The pie was creamy with a layer of chocolate and butterscotch. Add the whipped cream and chocolate and caramel sauce on the top and it's a cream pie of perfection. It was definitely worth the side trip and I highly recommend it.
More Pies in LA
Pie #36-37
While in Los Angeles, we asked the Google for the top pies in the LA area. Below are two of the pies that were on that list. We stop at Cake Monkey and had the most amazing apple pie I have ever had. The cider soaked apples fill the most amazing double cheddar crust. I cannot brag about this pie enough. It was so, so very good. My preference on pie is the filling. Zane's preference on pie is the crust. We make a good team because I always get the point and he always gets the leftover crust. However, we battled over this piece of pie. The filling and crust together were a perfect match and I had to distract Zane so I could have the final bite. Thankfully, he loves me and didn't get too upset. However, we should have purchased the entire pie. It was THAT good. Go get this pie!!
Another place on the list was Pie 'N Burger in Pasadena. It has been around since 1963 and I think the pie made the list for nostalgia reasons. I didn't think it was great. It was average. The place is a little hole in the wall with a long counter and a handful of tables. It was busy since the Rose Parade just finished and people were coming in for the Rose Bowl (we picked the wrong day to be in Pasadena) so I got the pie to go. I asked the server for their best pie and she recommended the boysenberry. So we got it. It was OKAY. I wouldn't go out of my way for it again and especially not during the Rose Bowl.
New Year's in LA
Pie #35
Zane and I have a fun tradition of heading to Las Vegas over the New Year's holiday to go to the Maroon 5 concert. I am a huge fan of Adam Levine and I love spending time with my husband so it is a win-win tradition for me.
We also found a list of the top 17 pies in the US put out by Time Out publication in 2015. One of the pies on the list is at a restaurant in Los Angeles. We decided to take a quick jaunt over to LA to try it out. The description on the website sold it for us...
"That one of L.A.’s best slices of pie comes from a breakfast spot specializing in charcuterie is besides the point. Salt’s Cure’s take on Key lime pie—swap out the limes for grapefruit—expertly walks the line between sweet and tart, with a to-die-for graham cracker crust holding it all together."
Divine!! One of my favorite pies I have tried, for sure. It was so different and original and delicious. I would definitely travel out to LA to eat it again. The lunch we had was good, too. It's worth the stop!
