Another winner in the Great Pie Giveaway today.  But once again, you’ll have to read to the end to find out who the lucky winner is.  There are two more gift boxes to give away this month.  The photos are just some of the prizes I’m giving away, along with pie cookbooks, pie servers, pie birds, pie mixes, T-shirts, watches, a Happiness Key keychain, and too many others to mention.  Each box is different, plus there’s a grand prize.  On July 1 I’ll choose a winner for an Amazon Kindle or a Breville pie maker–winner’s choice as long as both are still available–what are the chances Amazon will discontinue it’s popular ereader?

Did you miss the rules?  You’ll find them here and here.  There’s still time to enter, and it’s both simple and fun.  Just think pie.  Winners are chosen randomly from all correct entries.

Today instead of pie recipes, I thought I’d let some of the contest entrants tell their pie stories here.  You’ll see the wonderful range I’ve received.  Funny, sentimental, thoughtful.  What a great bunch of readers you are.

This smile-inducing family story comes from Thea and reminds us that pie does make memories:

“When my GGM was a teenager, she decided to make a raisin pie. She carefully filled the pastry crust with all the ingredients listed on the recipe, and baked the pie according to the instructions. After supper that night, her older brother was eager for a piece of that raisin pie, so he cut himself a big slice and stuffed a huge fork full into his mouth and chomped down on it…. and then let out a yelp! ….she had forgotten to soak the raisins in hot water, and the pie filling was like pea gravel!! Such a beautiful pie…full of rock hard raisins. Her brothers teased her about it for decades. At family reunions, someone would always ask if she had brought a raisin pie.”

And from Jean, a giggler: 

“Early in my marriage, I would bake cakes for our desserts. I grew up with dessert with every meal, so I continued the tradition. My husband would eat a slice the first evening and then decline thereafter. Needless to say, I was gaining too much weight finishing off the cake. Occasionaly I would bake a pie and it would be gone in a flash. My husband would have seconds and even have some for breakfast the next day. He asked why I didn’t bake pies more often. I told him that a cake would last for days and the pie was gone in one or two days. His reply was, “That’s because I don’t like cake!” I never did become a pie-baker and now he’s my ex-husband.”

Finally from Dee, a wonderful lump-in-the-throat story about the differences we make in the lives of those we love: 

“As a young child, I had no self esteem. Bad life, but a MARVELOUS Grandmother who did her very best to help me see myself as being a worthwhile human being. She taught me to sew, to cook, we both loved old movies and reading in bed late at night and sleeping in.

One of her successes was teaching me to make pie crust. I seemed to have a real feel for it. Whenever she was having company, or was going to a potluck, she’d pick me up, we’d make pie for her occasion. It was an accomplishment that I still practice to this day. We usually made apple, but practiced other kinds.

Thanks for reminding me about those great times. And I work hard to be that type of Grandma – Encouraging and loving.”

I’m delighted so many great stories are coming to the surface.  Now for that winner?  Congratulations to Linda, who submitted two wonderful recipes and this story to go with the first.

“This is a recipe my family has enjoyed for many years. They HAVE to have it on holidays, even though its not the normal holiday pie. I received it from my Home Ec teacher while I was in the 7th grade, and still have the mimeograph paper it was run on. We had a restaurant in Fort Pierce, FL that was known and famous for this Peanut Butter Pie. People came for miles for this pie, really!! It sounds difficult to make, but really isn’t. I have doubled the recipe and it comes out just fine.”

Peanut Butter Pie

Peanut Butter Crumbs:
1/3 c. peanut butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
Blend as for pastry until well mixed and mealy. Spread 2/3 of this over a baked crust (I usually use Pillsbury in the roll, or make my own)

*reserve the remainder for the top

Cream Filling:
2 cups milk, scalded
1/3 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3 eggs yolks slightly beaten
2 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine flour, sugar & salt.  Blend in scalded milk. Cook over boiling water until thickened. (Or carefully in a saucepan, stirring constantly.)  Blend mixture into slightly beaten egg yolks & return to heat & cook 2 more minutes. Add butter & vanilla stir to melt butter. Turn into pie shell and top with meringue.

Meringue:
3 egg whites
9 Tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. cornstarch

Beat egg whites until stiff enough to hold shape; Add cream of tartar; Mix sugar & cornstarch together, then slowly add. Beat until stiff & shiny.
Spread over filled pie, making peaks. Sprinkle the remaining peanut butter crumbs on top.

Bake @ 350 for 15 to 20 min. (light brown)

Cool.

Emilie adds “enjoy!”  And thank you, Linda for a new recipe to try.  Have fun with the prize box coming your way.