Pie: There's nothing easy about it as far as I can tell.When my family gathers around the dinner table this Thanksgiving, there will be something missing: homemade pie.
That's because of an absence that will be felt far more keenly: my mother.
She died over the summer, and she was the one who always baked our Thanksgiving pies -- two pumpkin pies, an apple and a pecan at the minimum -- even when she had to do it from a wheelchair. All family functions revolved around this warm and vibrant woman, and it's hard to imagine how we'll get through our first gathering since her funeral.
But we'll have memories to sustain us. We just won't have pie made from scratch.
Out of three children, their spouses and six grandchildren, not a one knows how to achieve a flakey crust.
One of my sisters-in-law is bringing a back-of-the-bag cranberry relish from Dallas, and my other sister-in-law from Portland, a vegetarian, can be counted on to transform something fresh and green into something delicious and unhealthy. My specialty is the breads -- pumpkin, cranberry and banana nut -- and together we can muddle through the rest of the feast OK.
Except for pies, which I don't like myself. Maybe making a pie is like giving a back massage; you have to enjoy getting them to be truly good at delivering them.
But no one else in my family can conceive of Thanksgiving without pie, so I've been searching.
Tell me, please. Where can I buy a pie that's as good as homemade in Clear Lake? Please oh please, comment below. And if you can't comment, please email me at jenny.montgomery@chron.com.
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Comments
Best Pie
Order your pies from the Classic Cafe in Seabrook. Best pie in the area.
Pie suggestion
Louis e-mails:
try the cake lady in friendswood..mmmmmm good.
Sidewalk Talk
Another vote for Classic Café
Jenny,
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother, and I'm wishing you and your family warmth on this first holiday season without her…
As for pies, the Classic Café in Seabrook is exactly where you need to go! Aside from working there for 4 years of my life as a high school and college student, my family has been dining there since I was little, and the pies have always been the end to each meal! We have (I say 'we' because after working there, I consider myself part of the ongoing family) Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan and Pumpkin Cheesecake for the holidays…all homemade by the owner's former wife who is still very much a part of the Café and comes in usually every other day around 4am to fulfill the continuous sweets need of the Clear Lake area! In addition to those traditionals we also have; Coconut Meringue, Keylime, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Cream and Tollhouse (a chocolate chip cookie pie that should be served warm and contains pecans) Pies, as well as Texas Sheet Cake (chocolate with homemade fudge frosting-also contains pecans), Carrot Cake and various flavors of Cobbler depending on the day. All of the desserts can be pre-ordered TODAY or TOMORROW to make sure that they are ready for you to pick up on Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
If you are interested, and I really think you should be, call the Café at 281-326-1512 and let them know how they can help you fill a small portion of the holiday void!
Happy Holidays-
--Stephanie
Sidewalk Talk
Thanks for the tips
Thanks for the leads! My brother emailed to let me know my 6-year-old nephew wanted to make sure we had pumpkin pie on the menu, so I'd better get to ordering.
Please keep the suggestions rolling, everyone.
Sidewalk Talk
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