Pie Day

Wow.  What a day.  We love making pies around here, well at least once a year - the day before Thanksgiving.  It seems like there are two kinds of people.  Those who make pies from scratch, and those who buy pies.  Michelle Weber told me they bought two pies for their family.  We're definitely a lots of pies from scratch kind of family, thank goodness!  It's more than just baking pies, it's a creative endeavor.  And then there are people like Julie, and even Sara this year, who take it a step further and make their pies dairy free, or gluten free, or paleo.  They're so cool.  I forces more on the artistic side of things, and the last year or two involving my kids more.  I may not be great at teaching them how to cook but I can teach them have to make a tasty and beautiful pie at least once a year. :)

It's funny how on school mornings I can't get the girls out of bed, and on no-school days they wake up early on their own. ???  Well, today it made me happy because they asked to go running with me.  Earlier this week Avery and Zara ran a mile in PE and got excited about getting better at running.  We ran what we call "the adventure way".  It's a loop around our beautiful neighborhood on Evergreen and then coming back by the stake center.

And since a mile went quickly we decided to do it again on bikes.  Avery didn't go far because of a flat tire but Zara and I did the mile.

Earlier this week I asked the kids what pie they're looking forward to eating and that pretty much determined what I helped them make.  Elliot made two chocolate pudding pie and placed the chocolate chips like snowflakes.  Quick and easy!

Ruth and Elmina mades  lovely banana cream pie, one of the missionaries favorites.  The girls loved looking through my pie pictures for inspiration.  That's why we have them!  It's aways fun to take an idea and try to make it your own.

Not sure what Allen helped make but it looks amazing!  I think it's for the Opie family.

Zara did a fantastic job on her cherry pie!  I think she helped make it last year too.  So proud of her!

This is about all Rupert did.  He mixed the filling for pumpkin pie and had the idea of the leaves in the middle.  It was too fun for him to play with all his cousins - Allen, Sterling, and Jason.  Just about right for a six year old boy. :)

See his pumpkin pie above on the bottom right?

Avery made chocolate mousse pie.  This isn't hard but takes extra time since we whipped heavy cream and egg whites, and melted chocolate for the filling, and then whipped heavy cream again for the top.  It's a nice rich recipe.

Natalie made the cutest strawberry pie, and the one on the right is my apple pie.  Obviously a more time consuming one.  It was good to try a new style.  I brushed it with egg wash and sprinkled with sugar so each swirl will be like a shortbread cookie.

Here are about half the pies!  Sara made a few more, but all hers are going to the Porters, Ruth as a couple at home, Avery's and Elliot's other one was in the fridge, and Julie was still baking a few more.  Lots  of pie photos because I look forward to posting them on Instagram every year.  Always with a print from Caravan Shoppe.

This afternoon Andrew booked a visit to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop.  It's been a few years and this year is different because there's no sitting on Santa's lap.  It probably worked out better because those four kids look so cute!  There were activities there and they all came home very happy.

Bea enjoyed playing with leftover pie crust.  Somer Lang, a friend from church, gave me some rosemary for the turkey since I forgot to get some at mom & dad's.  Her husband was picking up a turkey bag since she needed one and I had an extra.

Here we go!  Last year was my first year doing the turkey and Corey Willis walked me through it at their house.  This year I did it my way and it wasn't that scary.  See the rosemary under the skin on the top right photo?  Can't wait to see what it looks like when it's done.  Of course I have it easy because the turkey went right in the BBQ pit at church tonight.  Andrew dropped it off for me and the ward gave out hot chocolate and cookies, which was a big hit with the kids.

I seasoned with salt, garlic powder, mustard powder, pepper and ginger, plus the rosemary under the skin.  Super simple!

This is at the end of the day with three more of Julie's at the bottom.  Julie left around 5:00pm and Sara closer to 5:30.  We really were baking all day!