Guest Post: Kristi's "Happy Birthday Beautiful" Better Than Cake! Butterscotch Oatmeal Pie

At the Pi(e) Day Party earlier this year, I sent each of the past years' pie recipients home with an empty pie box and small tag reading, "It's true what they say - it is infinitely better to give than to receive. That's why I'm passing the rolling pin to you. Here is an empty box, just waiting to be filled with your homemade creation and gifted to someone you love. And if you're up for documenting your baking endeavors, I'd love to share your story on the blog! So pie it forward. It's your turn to "Bake Somebody (else) Happy." 

I am honored to be able to share Tim's story today in another Bake Somebody Happy guest post. It was an absolute joy to bake with him. Here's to more men in the kitchen!


I still can’t believe I am sitting down to write a blog about baking a pie. Well, I guess technically I baked it, but Erin was by my side guiding me through the entire process so I wouldn’t mess it up. I am sure I could have managed on my own, but I needed this pie to actually taste good. So why not recruit the help of a pie wizard like Erin? After all, she is responsible for this endeavor.

When she asked all of us that were lucky enough to attend her Pi(e) Day Party to “pie it forward” and bake somebody else happy, I thought it was a great idea and had every intention of one day fulfilling this request. Little did I know that it would only be a few short months later and it would be for a woman that I love dearly. Funny how things work. I don’t bake and I don’t fall in love easily... And I definitely don’t write about it to share with the entire pie loving world - which is everybody right?

Who doesn’t love pie? Pie beats cake everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. When I asked Will and Erin who I should bake a pie for, Erin right away suggested that it be for a girl as a way to impress her. Of course, I shunned that idea. What kind of creep bakes a pie for a girl they just met? PIES ARE A BIG DEAL! Bigger than flowers, bigger than a home cooked dinner. To my own detriment I tend to move slow, making sure I really like someone before I go all out. I am somewhat particular and can be slow to open up. But this was different. I knew Kristi was “pie worthy” by the second week of dating. Maybe even the second date. Now that is fast. PIE IS A BIG DEAL.

Of course my closest friend and his wife would be the first friends that Kristi was introduced to. Will was concerned that they wouldn’t be the first to meet her. This made me realize that he could already tell how important Kristi was to me by how I talked about her. I am happy to say that Will and Erin gave their stamp of approval and are extremely happy for us. Kristi, like me, thinks Will and Erin are pretty awesome and have a beautiful family. If your friends are any reflection of who you are, I definitely put my best foot forward with this introduction. I am lucky to have such great people in my life who look after me. Little did Kristi know that during this first visit for dinner, I was already talking to Erin about possibly baking a pie for her. I think Erin was more excited than I was. As usual, I down played this pie baking adventure. It was no big deal, just making a birthday pie for someone I love. Oh, that’s right. THIS PIE IS A BIG DEAL.

My idea for the recipe for Kristi’s birthday pie was to combine a few of her favorite sweets. This included Cold Stone’s Oatmeal Cookie Batter ice cream and oatmeal butterscotch cookies. After discussing the idea with Erin and exchanging a few emails, she came up with a great recipe for a pie with an oatmeal cookie crust and butterscotch custard filling - just what I was looking for. My only request was to add a whipped cream topping and possibly some butterscotch syrup. Once the recipe was perfected, I was off to the store with the list of ingredients we needed to complete this masterpiece. Kristi was out of town for work the night before her birthday, so it was a perfect time to bake the pie. I just had to tell a small little tale about going out to dinner with Will so she would not be suspicious when I missed her nightly call.
 
We first started by making the oatmeal cookie crust. A whole stick of butter and half cup of brown sugar - oh this was going to be good. The crust came together fairly quickly and it was time to press it into the pie tin. Trying to get it nice and evenly dispersed in the pan was a little harder than I thought. Being a perfectionist, I couldn’t leave it alone and kept fighting with it to get it just right. With a little help from Erin, it was ready to set in the refrigerator while we made the filling. 

Being a sucker for chocolate pies, I was not sure that the butterscotch custard filling was going to be as good. But when we started heating it over the stove, it smelled delicious and I couldn’t wait to give it a try. With the amount of brown sugar that went into this filling, I may have a new favorite pie. Well, actually it was already going to be my favorite pie for many other reasons than just the flavor. Once it thickened up a bit, it was time to put it in the refrigerator to thicken some more before we poured it into the pie crust.

It was now time to put the pie crust into the oven and move onto the finishing touches for the pie - the whipped cream topping and butterscotch syrup. I had no idea how easy it was to make homemade whipped cream and it tasted great. 

At this point, we could smell the oatmeal crust cooking and I began thinking to myself that this pie was going to be awesome. Awesome enough to make me want to attempt another pie in the future. Maybe Kristi could help me with that. The butterscotch syrup came together perfectly, taste tested and approved by the great bearded one. It’s funny how Will was chiming in as the flavor expert - I felt like we were on an episode of Chopped. But, we all agreed that it was really good.

Getting the crust cooked just right without burning the edges was a big concern, but I think we pulled it off. Pouring the butterscotch custard into the pie crust, we were almost done and it was looking like a real pie! It was getting late, but we still had a few finishing touches. It was fun to try to get perfect little stars of whipped cream on top, I think I did a fairly good job. 

Then it was time to decorate it with the syrup, which was pretty fun. It felt like splattering paint on a canvas, but then I just wanted to keep adding more! The last ingredient was the only part of this pie that was not homemade, but was the perfect touch - bits of toffee. This was Erin’s idea and I think it was great.

I have to say I was pretty proud of myself at this point, this pie looked amazing. We took some photos of the pie and it was time to box it up and get it home to the fridge before it melted.

Now just to think of a clever name that would accurately describe this pie and how special Kristi is. My mind was drawing a blank, but at the last moment I just wrote what I felt and thought it was a worthy title. Thus, Kristi’s “Happy Birthday Beautiful” Better Than Cake! Butterscotch Oatmeal Pie. A bit long, but pretty much sums it up.

I could not wait to get home from dinner so I could give Kristi her pie. I told her we could not have dessert at the restaurant because I had something better for her waiting at home. I really hoped this was the case - I think it was too late to go out for ice cream at this point if the pie was not a success.

As I brought out the pie, complete with birthday candles to Kristi, I could not have hoped for a better response. She had a great big smile on her face and was completely surprised. I had hinted at doing something special for her a while back and thought she might have figured out what it was, but she had no clue! This was a great birthday present and the first time anyone had baked a pie from scratch for her. I am so happy that she thought PIE WAS A BIG DEAL, too!

After getting her to pose for a few photos, it was time to dig in and find out how good this pie was. It definitely surpassed all of my expectations and we both loved this pie. I think all of Erin’s pies have been pretty amazing, but this one was probably the best. But, in all fairness, I am a little biased. Kristi loved this pie and I was so happy I could make it for her birthday. It is the little things in life that can make the biggest difference and I am glad that this small gesture could bring her so much joy and show her how much I love her.

I am positive I have driven Erin nuts with how long it has taken me to write this blog for Bake Somebody Happy, and hopefully my words are worthy of her great webpage. It is a wonderful idea and I am glad I could be a part of it. Kristi and I are looking forward to coming up with another pie to bake together, so I can help her “pie it forward.” Hopefully she will have a blog to share in the future! I could not be happier with how this pie turned out and I could not be happier now that I have found Kristi.

Guest Post - Grandson's Green Grape-of-My-Eye Pie

At the Pi(e) Day Party earlier this year, I sent each of the past years' pie recipients home with an empty pie box and small tag reading, "It's true what they say - it is infinitely better to give than to receive. That's why I'm passing the rolling pin to you. Here is an empty box, just waiting to be filled with your homemade creation and gifted to someone you love. And if you're up for documenting your baking endeavors, I'd love to share your story on the blog! So pie it forward. It's your turn to "Bake Somebody (else) Happy." 

But, I was completely caught off guard when my father in law phoned to ask if he might be able to drop off a pie for my oldest son, Wilson! I am honored and humbled to be able to share Kent's story today in another Bake Somebody Happy guest post.

Wilson's sparkling grinning eyes were his grandpa's joyful prize.

He literally gasped at the amount of freshly harvested grapes proudly displayed on grandpa's kitchen counter. "That's a lot of grapes," he beamed, smiling in anticipation.

Several rapid heartbeats later, it was decided. This boy needs a Green Grape-of-My-Eye Pie. Call it a celebration of his starting school next week...or an appreciation of a baby boy who has grown with guidance from loving, nurturing parents into a delightful and earnest young person.

Years pass so quickly. Moments ago, it seems, a proud and frightened new father appeared at the waiting room door to announce Wilson's arrival. Since then, it's been a five-year blur of diapers and trains, first tooth and trains, lost teeth and trains, family outings and trains, a new brother and trains, birthday parties and trains, babysitting and trains, beach vacations and trains...and trains.

And now his journey takes him to school. Don't cry (too much) Mommy.

Wilson, you are a precious fresh bundle of life that brings happiness to all who cross your path. You are a special gift that keeps on giving, and your grandma and I love you dearly. We hope you enjoy your Green Grape-of-My-Eye Pie.

All's "Fair" in Love and Pie Competitions

Truth be told, I debated even entering. 

My previous showing at the California State Fair was kind of a mixed bag - running the gamut from an adrenaline high with my "Mint to Be" Thin Mint Pie earning a first place blue ribbon to the stinging disappointment of an undercooked Boozy Caramel Apple Pie that didn't place. As I left the fairgrounds last year, I distinctly remember thinking, "Been there, done that and probably don't need to do that agian."
 
But, this summer has been a jumble of emotions - from the gratefulness I feel most every morning waking up to my noisy houseful of boys and very little on our to-do list to the ever increasing growing pains at the thought of my biggest boy heading off to kindergarten in just a few short weeks. As much as I try to be fully present in the moment, I find that - more often than not - I am grieving the latter.

And since nothing snaps me out of a funk like throwing myself headfirst into pie baking, I bit the bullet and entered two more humble pies in this year's fair.

If there is one thing the Pi(e) Day Party taught me, it's that people love chocolate pie (chocolate accounted for the first two empty tins on a table full of fruit and custard offerings). So, for my first entry, I quickly settled on Guinness pie - largely because my husband felt strongly about it and who am I to argue with my favorite taste tester?

Missouri Buttermilk Pie was an obvious candidate for my second entry, both because it has become our family's sentimental favorite and because I have made it more times than any other pie (including on TV!), but never in competition. I was hopeful that it was Buttermilk's time to shine!

Yet, as I took my place next to Will on those uncomfortable wooden benches in a room full of other nervous competitors, deja vu washed over me and I began to wonder why I had put myself through this again. My heart raced and my stomach fluttered as I anxiously attempted to decipher the poker face of each judge after taking their first bite.

When all was said and done, my Guinness Pie took home a second place ribbon, with the judge noting too coarse a crumb on the pretzel crust and too subtle of a Guinness flavor amongst the rich layers of chocolate and marshmallow.

And once again, the curse of the undercooked crust reared it's ugly head when it came time to slice into the Missouri Buttermilk Pie. I personally promise to perfect you, sweet Buttermilk, if only for Thanksgiving and sharing among friends.

I have come to the realization that competition doesn't bring out the best in me. I am far too much of a perfectionist to take a third party's critiques with a grain of salt. I much prefer making pies for those I love - pies that are appreciated tenfold compared to those submitted in competition. And with that knowledge, I rest comfortably and renewed in the purpose of my corner of the blogging world here at Bake Somebody Happy.

But, then again, a year is an awfully long time...so, who knows? Maybe I will see you once again, California State Fair. The third time is a charm, right?

"It could be argued that there is an element of entertainment in every pie, as every pie is inherently a surprise by virtue of its crust." - Janet Clarkson, Pie: A Global History

Reagan's "You're the Peanut Butter to My Jelly" PB&J Pie

As a stay at home mom, I had always just assumed that finding and facilitating friendships for my children was part of my job description. Surely, it fell somewhere between "laundry folder" and "time out giver." And so I took great pride in scheduling playdate after playdate with all of the usual suspects - kiddos from the neighborhood, church friends, my own friends' children and, of course, cousins.

But, my confidence as Playdate Coordinator was shaken when Wilson began preschool last fall. Almost instantly, Will and I began to hear bits and pieces about a little boy named Reagan. It seemed he had snuck right in and stolen the title of BFF without any help from me.

With some gentle prodding from their preschool teacher, I sent a brief email to Reagan's mom to see if she might be interested in getting the boys together outside of class to play. Almost immediately, I received an enthusiastic response from Melanie. It seemed that Reagan, too, regularly talked about his "best friend Wilson," even mentioning that they had grand plans to someday live at one anothers' houses. 

It has been delightful to witness the evolution of my little guy's first friendship over the course of the school year. From the tales of "Superhero School" (in which Reagan teaches Wilson various superhero moves that he later comes home and teaches the rest of the family) to updates regarding who got what Trashie in their most recent Trash Pack purchase, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. 

I couldn't help but smile when Melanie called one rainy winter morning to share that Reagan had just informed her that he felt like he and Wilson were "made for each other." It made my Mommy heart overflow with gratitude to know that someone else out there loved my little guy for exactly who he was.

And, as I watched Wilson wait on pins and needles at his fifth birthday party, refusing to even begin bowling until his best friend, Reagan was there, it struck me that never before had any one person been so important to him.

As the magical experience that is preschool winds to a close, I find myself mourning the all too soon transition to kindergarten and the irregularity with which Wilson and his best buddy will see each other. As I look anxiously toward the fall, knowing that Reagan will attend another school in a neighboring school district, I can't help but wonder how Wilson will adapt without his best friend by his side. 

In honor of best friends and preschool graduations, Wilson suggested that we make a little something for Reagan - a pie of course. And since nothing says preschool more than a good old PB&J, I present Reagan's "You're the Peanut Butter to My Jelly" PB&J Pie.

In an attempt to satisfy the preschool palate, my initial instinct was to go with a graham cracker crust. But, oh, how I do love a sweet and salty combo. And because I just couldn't decide, I opted to use both - combining pretzel and graham cracker crumbs with a bit of melted butter and dark brown sugar pressed firmly into a pie tin.

While the pretzel/graham cracker crust baked, my sous chef, Wilson and I set to work preparing the peanut butter portion of the PB&J filling. In a large mixing bowl, we combined all-natural creamy peanut butter, softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk.

Then for Wilson's favorite part - the whipped cream. After a brief tutorial on how not to spatter droplets of heavy whipping cream across the entire kitchen, I stood back and proudly let him take the reins - or beaters, as it were. 

Once the cream had been whipped into stiff peaks, we gently folded it into the peanut butter mixture and set it aside to begin work on the jelly portion of the PB&J.

Because strawberry jelly is the preferred partner to peanut butter in our home (and because nothing says summer like strawberries), we opted to use strawberry preserves as the base of our jelly layer.

So, I dissolved a packet of gelatin into simmering water and let Wilson blend the gelatin with the strawberry preserves until smooth. (In case you're counting, that's two kitchen appliances for my pie baker in training. These things are super exciting when you're five.)

Now that we had all of the components prepared, it was time to assemble the pie, alternating between thick layers of sweet strawberry "jelly" and rich peanut butter mousse. 

When we reached the fifth and final layer, we flipped the wooden spoon around to use the handle to swirl dollops of jelly into a delicate feathery design.

The only thing missing was a bit more whipped cream - this time flavored with strawberry preserves. 

I am so grateful for the lifelong lessons that Reagan's friendship has taught Wilson - confidence, loyalty, acceptance and, of course, love. And I am thankful for the opportunity to let go of the reins just the slightest bit and learn to trust in Wilson's ability to form relationships on his own. I have to say, I couldn't be prouder of his judgement and selection in friends.

And just because sometimes a five-year-old can say precisely that which I as a Mommy, pie baker and blogger so struggle to put into words,

"Dear Reagan,
I love you, Reagan. Thank you for being my best friend. You are very good. I like to play superheroes with you.

Love, Wilson"

"Like peanut butter and jelly,

 pen and paper,
 moon and stars,
socks and shoes,
 pigs and mud,
cows and moo's,
 hot chocolate in winter,
flowers and spring...
somehow we just fit...
you and me.
The best of friends!” 
- Unknown