The next year we tried less. Our pie was a last minute trip to the store, an ice-cream conglomeration with a fruit roll-up cornucopia on top. And despite winning an overwhelming majority with the five and under set, it was another disappointing loss. And several snide comments about an electric blue gourd.
Other years aren’t even worth mentioning. There is our Thanksgiving in NY where the bell hop voted a pomegranate surprise over our pure melted chocolate crust. And last year’s caramel apple, pecan streuseled deliciousness didn’t fare any better.
But this year we came to play. Two entries—a tangerine Bavarian and a lemon meringue with homemade lemon curd, a pure pecan crust and ice cream sandwiched in the middle. Both 4 fork rated on epicurious.com. Both dazzlingly beautiful in their glamour shots.
Just look at them:
[These are our versions]:
I spent the better part of Thanksgiving making candied tangerine peels.
And when I put it together, I added a sprig of mint to the artistically haphazard pile of peels atop my freshly squeezed tangerine juice and whip cream wonder.
And you know something? You want to know something??? I lost. Again. To a chocolate cream pie with shaved chocolate on top. So, next year, forget the pie contest. Next year we arm wrestle.
P.S. Thanks to Annie and Matt for another INCREDIBLE Thanksgiving.
8 comments:
I understand. We had a youth auction where I sewed a baby quilt which took me almost a full day of work and it sold for $30. I would gladly have given the youth $30 and had my day back! Then, they brought out the desserts and my friend's cheesecake sold for $60. The next year I learned my lesson and whipped up a batch of brownies. Chocolate always seems to win!
I gave up on Thanksgiving baking the year that I made a pumpkin cake from scratch, 3 layers, pumpkin cream filling, it was beautiful... and then the (dumb)dog jumped up and ate half of it in one bite.
to add insult to injury you lost to CHOCOLATE CREAM? that must have been some chocolate cream pie.
sad. but were your pies tasty? They look so good!
MJ rejected all of the traditional Thanksgiving desserts and requested a family favorite, chocolate cake with chocolate/peanut butter frosting. Last year I made this double layer cake about every two weeks (for MJ's birthday 12/19, Marques 1/4, and Elsa 1/21). When my kids look back at their birthday pictures I think they will wonder why the cake always looks the same. It is always good and an easy recipe, if I can make it 4 times in 8 weeks I think you could make it too. I would be happy to share the recipe and perhaps make you the big winner! I do however admire the extreme effort. Epicurious is always a bit to fancy for me!
I'm highly impressed. I think these pies look delicious. It is sad that boring old chocolate won, but sometimes it is just so hard to beat that dang chocolate. I have given up dessert contests since 2 years ago when our ward dessert contest ended with me not bringing anything and all the pieces for a caramel pear cake were shoved in the fridge after I underestimated the time it would take to make and then to assemble. I did assemble it later and shared it with some neighborhood friends. They assured me that it most definitely would have won.
Well, who were the judges anyway? You can have the satisfaction of knowing you should have won. These look delicious. Love, Mom
Shelly- you are hilarious.
As a many time competitor and one time "Overall Winner" (sorry- just had to insert that) of the Annual McConkie Pie contest, I understand the stress, technique, skill and care that goes into these pies.
But I love that the "competitive McConkie's" (remember the reunion) is now spilling over to the Spencer side. I mean really, you haven't won one contest and suddenly it's "Okay, fine- let's do another." Although, I would like to see a arm wrestle show down!
Do I sound insecure if I have to add that my "Rasberry Bliss" won "Berry Best Pie" and "Best Presentation?" So maybe I am starving for attention...
Shelley -- I'm chuckling as I read this. Where is the JUSTICE??????
I love pie contest! Love, Mom Mc
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