It's a Tough Job, But Somebody Has to Do It!

So many pies, so little time...

I received the emailed invitation more than a month ago, asking me if I would like to judge a pie contest at Upper Providence Elementary School.  Duh!  (Which was exactly my reply.)  Who wouldn’t want to judge a pie contest?  It was a no-brainer!

During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Spring-Ford’s children are home on Thanksgiving break, but not the teachers.  In-service days and parent-teacher conferences fill those days (and nights) leading up to the staff having off on just Thursday and Friday.

This year, as a team-building/staff spirit event, principal Melissa Patschke organized a pie contest.  Staff members baked pies at home and entered them in a “best pie” contest.  There were three categories:  Fruit, Cream or Custard, and “Other.”  Staff members selected the category for their pie and provided the name.  The judging team was comprised of newly appointed assistant superintendent, Allyn Roche; director of curriculum and instruction, Johnna Weller; RCTV director and producer, Steve Bonetz; and myself.

Steve Bonetz "forces" a smile for the camera

The judging was a difficult task.  We struggled, (sometimes needing multiple tastes), to determine scores in four different areas.  These included appearance and of course, taste.  There was a completely homemade pumpkin pie, which was very impressive, however, it was entered in the “other” category, even though any baker’s son knows that pumpkin is a custard pie.  There were no entries in the cream or custard category, so this pie would have been a shoe-in as the first place winner in that category.  Kim Curcio, you not only could have been a contender, but a winner!

In the fruit category, there were two pies:  a lattice crust apple pie and a very interesting apple with vanilla bean butter pie.  Even though both were superb pies, the craftsmanship on the lattice crust of the Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pie made it the clear winner, not only of the fruit category, but of the best pie in the contest.  Congratulations to Emily McGranahan, who is a strings teacher.  That pie made the judges sing!

Runner-up Peanut Butter Silk Pie by Debbie Mohr-Kehs

And then there was the “other" category.  It was comprised of a mix of eight very eclectic pies.  There was a cherry cream pie, a chocolate-coconut pie, pumpkin chiffon, and a chocolate-pecan pie.  And then there were the peanut butter pies…and two of them.  Eating both of those pies was as close to a religious experience as one can get eating food.  Oh my.  Our taste buds woke up and took notice.  Those pies caused the judges to stop and truly savor the flavor.

So the judging became challenging, and I have to admit, a little stressful.  We made our decision based on just a slightly more intense peanut butter flavor.  Congratulations and thanks to the winner, secretary Betsy Mastrocola, for providing the recipe.  You’re going to love this pie!

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

The Winner!  Peanut Butter Pie by Betsy Mastracola

 Ingredients:

3 ounces cream cheese

1 cup confectioners' sugar

½ cup peanut butter

¼ cup evaporated milk

1½ cups Cool Whip

8 inches graham cracker crust

¹/₃ cup peanuts chopped

Directions:

Whip the cream cheese until fluffy, then beat in the sugar and peanut butter.

Slowly add the milk, blending well.

Fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture and spoon this into the pie crust.

Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

Betsy’s note:  “I chilled pie overnight (before adding the chopped peanuts) and added chocolate magic shell before I sprinkled with chopped peanuts and served.”

It had to be that chocolate shell that gave her the edge!  Congratulations, Betsy, as well as to all staff members who entered the contest, (see complete list below).  Thanks to Dr. Patschke for organizing the pie contest, and most of all…thanks for asking me to be one of the judges!  Any time!

Oh, and if you’re ever having a pie contest, and you need a judge….


The entries:
Cherry "Ohhh!"Cream Cheese Pie - Missie Patschke
Peanut Butter Pie - Betsy Mastrocola
Crisp Coconut & Chocolate Pie - Carol Mays
Pumpkin Chiffon with Gingersnap Pecan Crust - Liz Genther
Chocolate Pecan Pie - Reesa Wurtz
Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Pie - Emily McGranahan
Apple with Vanilla Bean Butter - Dan Currie
Real Homemade Pumpkin Pie - Kim Curcio
Peanut Butter Silk Pie - Debbie Mohr-Kehs