Piemas

Several years ago I heard of a holiday tradition ... Piemas

My friend Gretchen Allen Johns, who is a fantastic cook (and by the way also a creative potter), introduced me to the Twelve Days of Piemas.

For each day between December 25 to January 5 (a.k.a. the twelve days of Christmas), she makes pie. She invites all her friends to make pie as well, and share pictures of their creations.

My sour cherry pie

All types of pie! Sweet or savory, small or large. The caveat being able to cut a slice... so pizza pie counts... and crustless pie counts... as long as you can eat a slice of it.

Homemade mincemeat for my homemade pie

You may remember I enjoy making pie.

Picking sour cherries and making fresh pie in the late spring. Freezing enough cherries for pie in the winter.

Making my own mincemeat for that old-fashioned sweet/savory taste. Keeping the jar in the back of the fridge for mincemeat pie any time I want.

Gathering apples in the fall and storing them for pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas... and a few other times if the harvest is good.

And making pie with grandkids is the best. So much fun!

So, the idea of twelve days of Piemas sounded fantastic!

Methinks I had become a wee bit prideful about my woven lattice-top pie. Pete now says if I don't put a lattice top on my apple pie, it's just not the same.

When I found this cool tool in my grandmother's estate I got pretty excited!

The tool cuts zig zags for my lattice top!

Cool tool so I don't have to use my pinking shears...

One has to be cautious when getting a swelled head. Something will come along and let the air out. Grin.

In this case, I found the cool tool, then, wondering, googled fancy pie crust. Wow. There are myriad sites to make so many designs for pie tops. I really have to up my game!

Hahaha... not really... as long as people like my pie, I'll just keep making them the way I do for day-to-day consumption (while I eat a bit of humble pie).

And Piemas?

It is great fun making pies. I'll continue making an attempt to make twelve for the twelve days.

Though ... I must admit... I went out for a beef pie lunch one day... is that cheating?