Hooray, Hooray, Today Is National Pie Day

Entries in the 2012 Crisco National Pie Championship. Photo © by Judy Wells.

According to the good people at the National Pie Council, January 23 is National Pie Day and I for one plan to celebrate.

Why don't you join me?

Here's a winning recipe from the 2012 Crisco National Pie Championships.

As presented to the judges. Photo © by Judy Wells.

  The Apple of My Eye Pie
 2012 Amateur Apple Pie Winner, Created by John Sunvold, Winter Springs, FL

Use 9/9.5 inch plate.
Serves eight.

CRUST
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 TBS sugar
5 TBS. butter, melted
Mix all ingredients together and press mixture into pie plate. Chill for 10 minutes. Bake in a 375 -degree oven for 10 minutes, or until brown. Allow to cool down to room temperature before filling.

FILLING
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip*
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Beat vanilla, cream cheese, and powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in the Cool whip. Gently spread into crust and chill.
* Note: Judges thought it would be even better with real whipped cream instead.

APPLE TOPPING
4 cups apple slices
3 TBS butter
5 TBS brown sugar
1-1/2 TBS. cornstarch
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup apple juice
2 TBS. apple butter
Mix apple juice and cornstarch and set aside. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan and cook on the stove over medium heat until apples are appropriately tender. Once apples are tender, then add the apple juice mixture. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and cool. Double this topping, if needed. When cooled, generously top the pie with the apple topping, leaving some room for your favorite whipped topping.

GARNISH
Whipped cream, nut granola, caramel sauce
Top with favorite whipped cream or topping.
Top with a simple granola (nuts are OK, but no fruit), to taste (Just enough to add some crunch and texture to the pie). Drizzle with caramel sauce, if desired. Chill.

Is there anything better than pie?