Celebrating Pi Day

March 14th is Pi day (you know... 3.14?)  So to help you celebrate here are a few fun books about pie you and your little ones can read together.

Ugly Pie by Lisa Wheeler

Bear wakes up with a craving for some Ugly Pie.  As he makes the rounds to his neighbors he finds lots of wonderful pies--but no Ugly Pie.  He gathers ingredients along the way and goes home to bake his Ugly Pie--which he generously shares with his neighbors. 

 Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert

I always love the illustrations in Lois Ehlert's books.  This story follows a father and son as they watch their cherry tree throughout the seasons--with a delicious ending!

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

 When a boy moves down the street during the summer he becomes neighborhood enemy number one.  Dad happens to know how to get rid of enemies: with Enemy Pie.  However, the secret ingredient is to spend the entire day playing with the enemy.  Will it work?  Can Enemy Pie turn worst enemies into best friends?

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Back in the day when I only had one little boy I entered the local pie contest which was touted as the "biggest pie festival west of the Mississippi." I was so surprised when I won first place for my apple pie!  So in honor of pi day I'm sharing my recipe with you!

Jeanine's Blue Ribbon Apple Pie

Crust:

3 cups flour

1 cup Crisco shortening

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

7-9 Tablespoons ice cold water

Mix flour and salt.  Cut in shortening.  Slowly add the ice water while you mix, until you have dough.  Divide into 2 equal sections (one for the top and one for bottom). Roll out on a floured surface.

Filling:

6 Granny Smith apples, pared, cored and thinly sliced (about 6 cups)

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons of flour

1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon

dash of salt

dash of nutmeg

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine sugar, flour, spices, and salt.  Mix with apples.  (Sometimes I let this mixture set overnight or for a few hours to let the juices come out.)  Line your pie plate with pastry.  Fill with the apple mixture and dot the top with butter.  Adjust the top crust, cutting slits for steam.  Seal the edges and sprinkle the top with sugar.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Lower the over to 400 degrees and cook for about 35 more minutes or until golden brown.