Today (01/23) is National Pie Day! And I’m not talking the mathematical pie day (03/14), but one that is much more fun!
You see, pie is my favorite dessert, and when I discovered that the American Pie Council designated January 23rd as National Pie Day, I made a point to celebrate it every year. So, we have 10 pies in the Conference Room at the office, and we invite the employees, vendors, customers, friends & family to participate. My wife made 5 pies (pumpkin, coconut cream, lemon meringue, tart cherry & rhubarb). Unfortunately the pumpkin was overbaked and didn’t make the cut (may it RIP). I purchased a chocolate cream, apple crumb & tri-berry pie, and an employee brought in an apple & apple crumb as well. As you can see, we like our pie!
When people ask how the APC decided on January 23rd for National Pie Day, I tell them the story I learned from visiting their website. Apparently a lot of people think making a pie is too difficult, but according to the APC, making pie is as easy as 1..2..3, thus January 23rd (01/23). Works for me.
I grew up around home baked goods, but my favortie has always been pie. My great-grandmother, along with my mother, knew how to make a pie. Usually fruit pies, but my mother also knew how to make cream pies and lemon meringue. Luckily my wife has been passed the torch and the legend of great pies continue to bless my life! And when I experience a pie that’s exceptional (like my sister-in-law’s tart cherry pie), my wife does her best to duplicate the recipe, usually meeting or exceeding my expectations.
Every so often my birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day (my favorite meal of the year, but I digress), and when I was a young lad my mother made my Thanksgiving birthday extra special one year by baking me my own pumpkin pie! Needless to say, that made quite an impression on me, and to this day I prefer birthday pie to birthday cake.
Pie is about as common a dessert as can be, but yet comes in a smorgasbord of flavors, textures and combinations. People often ask me what my favorite pie is, and I simply reply “it’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is………you love them all!”
So, to all of you who prefer mathematical pie day (03/14) I say to each their own. For me, I prefer the infinite possibilities that National Pie Day offers and all it adds up to be! In fact, I think I’m ready to add a slice of apple to my daily total. Just a common dessert with uncommon flavor for a common man (or woman).
Enjoy the day!!
Thoughts of a Common Man 