Amateur, Professional and Commercial bakers from all over the country arrived with truckloads, car loads and van loads of pies for their shot to compete in the 15th  nnual National Pie Championship. Thousands of visitors showed up to stroll and eat their way through the Great American Pie Buffet at the Festival.  The event is hosted by the American Pie Council (APC).

I was fortunate to be there to be a judge in the commercial division which was much more challenging then one would think.  Besides getting full, the judging guidelines were intense.  I met hundreds pie bakers:  men and women and children. During a time of economic uncertainty and constant bad news, it was rejuvenating to watch crowds of people walking through the festival sporting Pie Police T-shirts and I Love Pie stickers. Everyone was happy.  Winners showed off their blue ribbons and everyone got to eat pie.  Just to go on the record, My favorite pie was a slice of key lime pie dipped in chocolate and served on a stick like a ice cream pop!

The American Pie Council® is the only organization committed to maintaining America’s pie heritage, passing on the tradition of pie-making and promoting America’s love affair with pie.

Best Classic Pie
Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Pie  - (Reprinted by courtesy of The Kitchn)

Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

For the crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cold shortening
2 tablespoons cold butter
4 tablespoon ice cold water

For the filling:
15-oz. can pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 cups heavy cream
1 Tbs. cognac or brandy
3/4 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. table salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Make crust dough:
Mix flour with salt.  Cut in the shortening until the mixture looks like fine meal.  Cut in the butter coarsly–this makes a flaky crust.  Both of these cut steps can be done in a food processor by pulsing.  Sprinkle with water, mixing lightly with a fork until all the mixture is moistened.  Alternatively in a food prcessor, pulse until the dough starts to gather.  Bring dough together and press gently into a smooth ball.  Wrap ball in plastic wrap ad chill for half an hour.

Leaf design crust

Poke holes through the bttom of the crust with a fork.  Put in a sheet of parchment or wax paper on top of pie shell and weight it down with pie weights or beans (see picture).  Bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes or until dough looks dry.  Let crust cool down completely before filling.

Make the filing and bake the pie:
Heat the oven to 325 F.  In a large bowl, whisk the pumpkin, eggs, egg yolk, cream and cognac.  (see picture)

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, pepper and cloves.  Whisk the sugar mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

Pour the filling into the cooled pie crust.  Bake until the pie is set around the outside but still slightly wet and jiggly in the center, about 1 hour.  The filling will continue to set as it cools.  Let the pie cool completely and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours (yeah, right!) and up to 2 days before serving.  I have let the pie cool for 30 minutes before digging in.  It can be hard to wait sometimes.

I would highly recomend baking and serving your pie in an Emile Henry Pie Dish to make a beautiful presentation for your family and guests.

To view this recipe in full with all pictures and other amazing winning recipes visit www.thekitchn.com.

Sour Cherry Pie

Celebrating one of my favorite holidays – National Pie Day which is today, January 23rd. It is a celebration of pie so what a great excuse to indulge in your favorite pie or bake your best recipe. Here are some of my favorite pie recipes, cookbooks, websites and much more. Please post your favorites.

Emile Henry Cerise Pie Dish

Check out my favorite recipes at the following:

Lattice Topped Sour Cherry Pie recipe

Pecan Pie recipe

Of course, the BEST Pie Dish in the world – from Emile Henry.

Looking for a pie plate with a bit of personality? Check out this pretty ceramic baker that can be an all-purpose oven-to-table server. Find it in fruity shades, like cherry red, apple green and lemon yellow.
–Good Housekeeping Institute

Best Pie Class

http://www.pennyspies.com/

http://cookiesinheaven.blogspot.com/2009/01/national-pie-day-is-coming.html

Favorite Cookbooks

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=265

Be creative and win an Emile Henry pie dish. Hurry it ends on January 31st.

http://www.emilehenryusa.com/recipe/Pretty-Pie-Contest.html

Fun New Pie Cookbook

http://www.amazon.com/Garden-County-Pie-Delights-Michael/dp/0929636848

http://gardencounty.info/_wsn/page5.html

Founders of Pie Day have fun facts about pie, info about the National Pie Championships and so much more. Check out the American Pie Council at

http://www.piecouncil.org/pie_events/national_pie_day.php

Favorite Recipe websites

http://www.foodnetwork.com

http://www.allrecipes.com

Please share all your favorite cooking secrets, recipes, and much more with us.