Thanksgiving Day Race

   Allyson, Scott & I ran the Ward Parkway Thanksgiving Day 5k together. Not my best time, but I did come away with a huge pumpkin pie from Costco & a gallon of Gatorade concentrate with my registration. Makes 8 gallons. Anyone need some Gatorade?

Wayne's Labors on Labor Day

  Madeline & her parents, Diane & Wayne (aka "my KC family") invited me over for Labor Day Homemade Pizzafest 2011. I traded texts with Madeline earlier in the day:
Me: Is it ok if I'm not there right at 6? Bringing dessert. Making it now!
Madeline: Of course it's okay. But the dessert should be here at 6. ;)

You KNOW that's how I roll!

  And thus, I made it to The Tompkins' home, cheesecake in hand, at 6:28. One of us was late! ;) The other usual suspects, Bob & Ana, Tasha, and Alexandra were already there. And Wayne was already at least 3 pizzas into his stellar performance...

A sampling from Wayne's pizza palette: prosciutto & fresh mozzarella; chicken with mole sauce; fresh pesto & mushroom; salsa fresca with carmelized onion & apples. Not pictured: honey & Sriracha sauce (aka "hot cock sauce")

  In the end, we devoured 12+ unique mini pizzas, most of Alexandra's gorgeous homemade mixed-berry pie & most of my cheesecake. We never seem to have many leftovers. And we ALWAYS have a great time!

Random Hallmark Moments: Pass the Pie

  Recently our department split into two teams to compete and see who could gather more donations for Harvesters, a great organization that provides meals to the hungry in our community. I was on the East Side team, led by Sara, and Tara led the West Side team. The losing senior manager agreed to take a pie in the face for the cause.
  There was a lot of good-natured trash-talking during the weeks of the competition, but ultimately it was won by West (West Siiiiide!), so Sara was on the hook for the pie, and Tara was a willing and enthusiastic emcee who clearly was going to relish the pie humiliation.

  Sara attempted to weasel out by putting Dave in a skirt and a wig to stand in for her, but his hairy legs gave him away. She eventually showed up and took one for the team. They were all excellent sports and it made for a fun end to the day. But look out next year, West!

Peach pie!!!! Pippikippippippi!!!!

   On Friday, Debbie brought a ton of fresh peaches from her tree to work to share with everyone. By the end of the day there were still many left & she didn't want to take them all home, so I volunteered. It would be a great chance to make my first peach pie, to serve at tonight's BBQ in honor of our intern, Alexandra! 

   I found a couple of recipes online & combined them. I blanched & peeled the peaches. Their coloring was so beautiful... almost to perfect to eat. Almost. This was no time to get sentimental. The filling was a traditional, creamy pie filling so I opted for a streusel crust, essentially making a peach version of my favorite blueberry pie.

Into the oven!

The finished pie:

   I'd give it an A for first impression, B for flavor, C for the consistency. The bottom crust got a little soggy & the center didn't set up enough. When the pie was cut, a river of peach lava immediately flowed into the open space. But other than that, it was delicious & disappeared quickly. I'd make it again, possibly frankensteining different recipes.

(Bonus points if you got the reference in the title.)