PIE IN THE SKY BAKE-OFF: AND THE WINNER IS...

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it.

Three local pie aficionados taste-tested 17 pies during the finals of the Southeast Missourian's Sky in the Pie Bake-off Saturday. The finalists were culled from more than 125 entries, which all appear in today's edition.

Ironically, it was the last pie the judges' tasted -- Favorite Chicken Pie by Mary Ann Cruse of Scott City -- that won top honors. It also won first place in the meat-vegetable category.

After three hours of testing, all three judges were surprised, saying they never expected a meat pie to win.

"If pie is a comfort food, there is definite comfort in this pie," said Tom Harte, as he took a bite of Favorite Chicken Pie. "There is nothing unusual about this pie, no gimmick. It's just lovingly and perfectly done."

Harte writes a biweekly food column for the Southeast Missourian and is a charter member of the American Pie Council. He was joined at the judging by Fred Janzow, who plans to attend the American Pie Council annual meeting in Boulder, Colo., with Harte in January.

Susan McClahanan, director of the Cape Senior Center and author of the Missourian's new weekly Recipe Swap column, said the judging was tough because of the high caliber of fresh-baked entries.

Winners in other categories included:

-- Fruit Pies: Joan Haring of Cape Girardeau with her Praline Taffy Apple Pie.

-- Pudding-Custard Pies: Rita Burk of Cape Girardeau for her Maple Syrup Cream Pie.

-- No-Bake Pies: Paula Niswonger of Jackson and her Turtle Pie.

-- All-Time Favorites: Tracey Tripp of Cape Girardeau and her Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie.

Cruse won a year subscription to the Missourian for her winning entry. First-place winners received a comic book umbrella, and other finalists earned a "Seeds on the Wind" book by Jean Bell Mosley.

Cruse was delighted by the recognition, saying her children encouraged her to enter.

She's been cooking since a child and admits she rarely uses a recipe.

"I love to cook. My dad taught me," she said. "I don't measure. I just play it by ear with a pinch of this or that."

JUDGE'S FAVORITES:

Best of show: Favorite Chicken Pie

First place Cream Pie: Maple Syrup Cream Pie

First place No Bake: Turtle Pie

First place All-Time Favorites: Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie

First place Fruit Pie: Praline Taffy Apple Pie

First place Meat Pie