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.

The verdict is in:

Cheesy apple pie is found guilty of being too delicious for its own good. It is sentenced to be eaten at sunrise tomorrow. ...Or sunset tonight. ...Or for lunch today.

While this baked, my house smelled better than it ever has before. The slight sweetness of the apples with the smell of baked cheddar...After it was done, I had to leave the house just to keep myself from taking a fork to it right then and there.

The crust tastes just like cheese crackers. I could eat just the crust, by itself, with no filling. And the topping was like a streusel, but with cheese. Crunchy and delicious. Oh, and it really goes down nicely with a crisp bottle of white.

Anybody want a slice? I've got a few left.

The Cheese That Goes...

Ants in the pants: I've got 'em. I want to make a pie. I've got to make a pie. I NEED to make a pie. Something new, something I've never tried before. But what? Fruit isn't exactly in season here, and everyone knows I only use seasonal fruits. I mean, I guess I could pick up some local apples at Saturday's Farmer's Market(I just found one that operates YEAR ROUND! Oh baby, the cinnamon apple sauce at the Mennonite stand...to die for...).

But, apple pie? Really? I know it's American, and it tastes like home, and all that mumbo jumbo. But come on, I need something new. I need a thrill!

What if I threw something else in there with the apples?

But what? Caramel? Done. Brandy and custard? Also, done(though that one was ah-maze-zah-hing). Cranberries? Do you really think I haven't tried that before?

...And inspiration strikes: The cheese platter...

Have you ever seen a cheese platter without fruit? Neither have I. What if...ok, and I want you to really think about it before being completely grossed out...what if I take a normal apple pie filling, but I encase it in a deliciously, cheddary crust? Then I could do some type of topping with more cheddar.

Wait! Why do I care what you think? I think it sounds awesome! And I think I know what I'll be doing on Saturday, just as soon as I drop Sumo at the airport. Yep, apple and cheddar pie...all to myself. Mooooahahahahahah!

...maybe I could be talked into sharing...that'll probably come at a price though...