NEWSPAPER BEGINS 'PIE IN THE SKY BAKE-OFF' CONTEST

Pie, anyone?

Today the Southeast Missourian announces the start of its "Pie in the Sky Bake-off." The contest goes hand-in-hand with a new reader Recipe Swap column that begins Dec. 2.

But back to pies.

Readers are encouraged to submit their favorite pie recipe. The deadline is Monday, Dec. 7. The top finalists in five different categories will be asked to bake up their pies for official taste-testing of the judges.

The categories include:

-- Meat-vegetable pies such as chicken pie, Shepherd's pie or spinach and onion pie.

-- Baked fruit pies such as apple, pumpkin or berry pies.

-- No-Bake pies such as Key lime, lemonade or other refrigerated pies.

-- Pudding pies such as banana cream or chocolate cream.

-- All-time favorites such as pecan pie, egg custard, peanut butter pie or brownie pie. These pies wouldn't fit in the other categories.

Recipes can be mailed to Pie in the Sky Bake-off, Southeast Missourian, Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701 or dropped by any of the Missourian's offices.

Winners in each category along with a blue-ribbon champion will be announced Dec. 16, along with publication of all the entries. This holiday pie section could prove a valuable resource for holiday baking, said Joni Adams, managing editor.

In recent years, the newspaper has sponsored a number of baking contests that have proved very popular with readers. Hundreds of recipes have been submitted for meatloaf, dessert and cookie contests.

But pies have a year-round appeal. Just ask Ursula Dalzell, managing editor of a Web site -- www.pierecipes.com -- that specializes in pie recipes.

"Everybody likes pies, and they're a year-round favorite," said Dalzell. "Pies are easy to make, and they range from meat pies to desserts."

She said around the turn of the century pies were actually a staple for breakfast, lunch or dinner. "For lunch, people would have pies that were meat filling at one end and fruit at the other. You'd get your meal and dessert all in one pastry," she said.

Pies are also a favorite of Susan McClanahan of Cape Girardeau -- who will write the newspaper's new Recipe Swap column. It will run every Wednesday in place of Mr. Food, who is quitting his syndicated newspaper column in two weeks.

"I love fruit pies in season, especially strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and apple," McClanahan said. "My husband's favorite is chicken pie."

But the real star of the Recipe Swap column will be the readers. McClanahan hopes to build a weekly conversation between readers and herself, as they experiment with different recipes and search for "long-lost" recipes. She will also share her own kitchen tips along with her favorite recipes.

For example, one Southeast Missourian reader called Speak Out recently about a sorghum molasses cake recipe that ran in the paper many years ago. Hopefully, the new Recipe Swap column can provide some answers.

McClanahan, who serves as administrator at the Cape Senior Center, is no stranger to recipes. Her cookbook collection tops 2,000.

She began cooking in the second grade and has never stopped.

McClahanan doesn't consider herself a gourmet cook. She prefers the down-home country recipes that are easy to prepare.

"I can't wait to start the column," she said. "I think it will be lots of fun and a good learning experience. I always learn new things in the kitchen."

Cooking runs in her family. McClanahan's brother, Wes Kinsey, owns and operates My Daddy's Cheesecake. Her sister, Pat, is the dietary manager at The Lutheran Home.

McClahanan will also serve as one of the judges of the pie contest. She also helped judge last year's cookie contest, which she said was a lot of fun.

Readers will be encouraged to send in recipes and questions to Recipe Swap, Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

RECIPES ADDRESS

Mail recipies to:

'Pie in the Sky Bake-off,'

Southeast Missourian,

Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701

or dropped by any Southeast Missourian office