Ah Memorial Day weekend, that sweet unofficial start of summer.

I've taken notice of a few other unofficial summer starters, too. Yesterday I saw various neighborhood kids running around with their beach towels and flip flops. Last night showcased its first lightening bugs of the season, lighting up the sky for a brief moment so that we could pinpoint their location. And on top of all those sure-fire signs of summer, a new pie has been made (and mostly devoured).

The first pie of the Second Annual Summer Pie Challenge has met its demise.

PB&J Pie. From the beginning, it didn't really stand a fighting chance.

I began with the strawberries. Big, red, juicy. Oh, were they delicious! I bought an extra quart at the farmer's market just so I could snack. I love strawberry season.

Anyway, many people don't bake with strawberries because they believe the strawberries will get too mushy. But, so do practically all the other pie fruits (blueberries = mushy, cherries = mushy, peaches = mushy). What these people need to learn is that strawberries want to be baked. I know this because they told me last year.

Strawberry 1: "Chrissy put us in a pie."
Chrissy: "Like, with the jello?"
Strawberry 2: "No, no. Bake us."
Chrissy: "Ok..."

But last year I realized one thing: strawberry pie with peanut butter would ROCK!



And it did. The strawberries tasted like jam, with chunks of the fruit remaining. And the peanut butter...Well, anyone who has ever had peanut butter pie knows how wonderful that is. Their powers combined create Captain Planet! Or, at least, Captain Awesome Pie. Which served as a delicious cool treat on a warm (almost) summer's night.

1 down/15 to go. Come enjoy a slice!

Well, it has officially come and gone. No, no, I'm not talking about the Rapture. I meant the Summer Pie Challenge voting. Though - I'm pretty sure God would be cool with the suggestions you all gave. I just get this feeling he loves pie. Maybe not the apple though. That whole Eve thing...

Anyway, yes, the votes are in and the pies have been chosen. I need to thank everyone who voted for this summer's Challenge. Sadly, I couldn't take every suggestion: Sorry to Debbie for not choosing her Snicker's Pie idea (I've done it before, and it was darn good!) and to Craig for not going with the Mrs. Lovette Meat Pie idea (I said legal, Craig. Legal!).

As for the other suggestions, many will be utilized. I've made some minor adjustments here and there. Turned 'chocolate cream' to 'chocolate fudge,' added fruit where needed (and where not needed).

I feel bad altering the suggestions, but summertime offers us such a fantastic variety of fresh flavors that I couldn't not add blueberries in there somewhere. Oh, and no one suggested anything with apples! I mean, is this still America? Did I move?

Sorry, I digress... Would you like to see your winners? Yeah? Ok, read on to see which 16 pies were chosen and the names of the voters who suggested them.

1. PBJ Pie - Me, myself, and I
2. Rhubarb Crisp Pie - Erin Persaud
3. Chocolate Almond Coconut Cream Pie - Momma McP
4. Cherry Chocolate Stout - Daddio
5. Kiwi Pie with a strawberry whipped cream topping - Tina Ringwold
6. Whoopie Pie Mini-Pies - Jane "Gigi" Mertz
7. Blackberry Margarita Pie - StaceFace Kruml
8. Habanero, Peach, Mango Pie with a pineapple streusel topping - Craig Martin
9. Blueberry Chocolate Fudge Pie with a peanut butter drizzle - Nate Butler
10. Raspberry Espresso Mousse Pie - Another one from StaceFace
11. Plum & Peach Custard - Sue Sumner
12. Banana Split Pie - Sumo and my old office, Dr. Schneider's Dentist office
13. Fried Pickle Pie - Lisa Golfieri
14. Rum Raisin Peach Pie - Dave Hahn
15. Bavarian Cream Pear Pie with Mocha drizzle - Darla (sorry, Darla, I forget your last name)
16. Bailey’s Apple Custard - Once again, My Pops (man he's got some good ideas)

Well, if it sounds good, or even interesting, stay tuned to see what happens. From now through September one of these pies will be made each week. This means that I will have a lot of pie to eat. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in trying one of the aforementioned delicacies, you know how to reach me.

Until then, stop eating. 'Cause there's only room for pie.

80 degree weather - Check.
Lots of sunshine - Check.
Carpenter bees gnawing their way through my wooden deck - not happy about this, but - Check.

Are you sensing the pattern here? See where I'm going with this?

Ok, well, are you at least getting hungry (come on, you're on a pie site)?

It's time for the 2nd Annual Summer Pie Challenge!
*Rahhhhhhhh!!! Raahhhhhhh!!! And the crowd goes wild! Raahhhhhh!!!*

Last summer saw pies such as Jack Daniel's Chocolate Chip Pecan, and crowd favorite, Grasshopper. And who can forget the crazy, and totally weird, Pear and Jalapeno Jelly pie? Not me, for one, and not the little jalapeno man carved on the top either.

But this year, I'm going to make things more interesting. Think, interactive. No, I haven't figured out a way to transport a slice of pie over the internet yet; rather, I was thinking that it might be fun to take pie suggestions from my readers. You name it, and (if legally able) I'll make it. Only issue is that it has to be something I've never made before. So, be creative (or just read my old posts).

The first pie will be made on May 27th, and the flavor has already been decided on. I'm taking last season's strawberry and mixing it with my peanut butter pie filling. I will call it "Peanut Butter & Jelly Pie." Or something slightly more clever of that nature.

So draw your pens and start the brainstorming. The list of competing pies will be finalized by Friday, May 20th. It will then be hung, ever so gently, by magnet, on my refrigerator.

Please send your ideas my way, I can't wait to judge them. I like judging.



One final note: Good luck.