While growing up, I remember my three older brothers, Mark, Paul and David were constantly eating. When all five of us kids came home from school, it was definitely everyman for himself as we charged into the kitchen. Bread, peanut butter, cereal and any food without a note on it from mom telling us not to eat it, was fair game. With three teenage boys, there often were arguments about who ate the last cookie or who ate all the corn flakes etc. I remember one day, my father was a given a big can of cashews from a pare...

My husband, John grew up in a family of thirteen children!! His parents did a lovely job raising them insuring that they all had charming childhoods, teaching virtues such as hard work, integrity, respect, faith and love. John’s mother was a wonderful cook and baker and insisted that all thirteen children had happy, celebrated birthdays. On their special day, each child was allowed to choose their favorite dinner for the evening and of course, their favorite dessert. My husband and his twin sister always chose the same birthday dessert year af...

My Aunt Margie was one of those special people that exuded love in everything she did.  All that knew her felt her love and instinctively gave it right back. Life was simply better with Auntie Margie around. When she came to visit our whole family would anxiously await her arrival. We could hardly wait to see her pull up in her blue Buick packed with gifts for us kids. She routinely brought us chewing gum, comic books and her famous banana cream pie. Occasionally, I would be the lucky one that got to bring t...

My dear friend Faye grew up in a small town in Texas back in the fifties and sixties.  She has wonderful memories of her loving family and neighbors getting together often for dancing, Motown and delicious southern comfort food. Clearly, food, fun and folly were a constant in Wichita Falls. Faye’s mother was known for her sweet potato pies in particular because no one could make a better one. Her pie was creamy and made with Texas sweet potatoes with just the right amount of cinnamon and butter. So, as it was, peop...

While growing up in Michigan, my twin sister and I would spend a week of the summer at my dear Aunt Margie’s farm. For us, no week was ever more anticipated. One of the highlights of the week was Saturday Baking Day. We started baking, at dawn in my Aunt’s tiny, pink kitchen to avoid the heat of the summer day. My Aunt rolled out the crust. My sister prepared the fresh raspberry layer, and I stirred the creamy custard filling. Each summer, the three of us consistently turned out a beautiful and delicious pie...

One of my most memorable dates with my husband was a picnic in the park. I wanted to display my cooking talents to my new beau, so I planned to make everything myself. I had decided on fried chicken, cole slaw, baked beans and coconut cream pie for the menu. I had helped my mom in the kitchen my whole life so none of this was daunting for me except the illusive piecrust. I spent hours trying to roll out the pie dough, but had failed miserably each and every time. I was ready to quit altogether when my mother walked into the kitchen afte...

My great Aunt Ella called Northern Michigan her home for nearly ninety years. As an unmarried schoolteacher, she spent her summers as a baker at the local “Grand View of the Lake Inn.” The inn was located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan and across the road from a cherry orchard; a perfect combination for breathtaking views and fresh, homemade cherry pies. Tourists would line up for hours to take in dinner, a golden sunset and a piece of my aunt’s heavenly pie. My aunt loved her life, inspiring both students in the classroom...

 

 "Changing the World One Pie at a Time" is a Sweetie-licious project designed to recognize folks whose selfless acts of kindness, make our community that much richer... Too often good news is ignored and the good guy finishes last... but not any more! We at Sweetie-licious want to gift these special folks with a piece of our award-winning pie to say “thank you”. For all of us at Sweeties, it’s unanimous as to who the first recipient should be. This person will not want this recognition, which is why he should receive it…  J...

We're now getting fresh local rhubarb and are making lots of amazing rhubarb pies - including rhubarb custard, cherry rhubarb, bluebarb (blueberry rhubarb) and straight up plain rhubarb. If you haven't tried one of them, be sure to stop in and have a slice (or better yet, take home a whole pie for the holiday weekend!)