1. National Pie Day! A January Celebration!

2. Pie is a Much Loved American Tradition Created by the American Pie Council, National Pie Day is dedicated to the celebration of pie. As part of our American heritage, this day is a perfect opportunity to pass on the love and enjoyment of pie eating and pie making to future generations.

3. National Pie Championships= Awesome Each year in January the American Pie Council sponsors the National Pie Championships where some of the best pie makers in the United States and Canada enter their pies to compete for the "American Pie Council's Best Pie in America" award.

4. Celebrate National Pie Day! To celebrate National Pie Day share the warmth of the ultimate "comfort food" by giving the gift of pie to a friend or neighbor. Your generosity will be long remembered. If pie making is not in your schedule, stop by your favorite pie shop or grocery store and bring home a gift of love and enjoyment for the whole family. The coldest of January days will be warmed by a special pie dessert.

5. Pie Has Been Around For-Ev-Er! Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians. The first pies were made by early Romans who may have learned about it through the Greeks. These pies were sometimes made in "reeds" which were used for the sole purpose of holding the filling and not for eating with the filling. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that the word pie was a popular word in the 14th century. The first pie recipe was published by the Romans and was for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie. The early pies were predominately meat pies. Pyes (pies) originally appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The crust of the pie was referred to as "coffyn". Often these pies were made using fowl and the legs were left to hang over the side of the dish and used as handles.

6. Pie Spreads to America Fruit pies or tarts (pasties) where probably first made in the 1500s. English tradition credits making the first cherry pie to Queen Elizabeth I. Pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early colonists cooked their pies in long narrow pans calling them "coffins" like the crust in England. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts often were not eaten, but simply designed to hold the filling during baking. It was during the American Revolution that the term crust was used instead of coffyn. Over the years, pie has evolved to become what it is today "the most traditional American dessert". Pie has become so much a part of American culture throughout the years, that we now commonly use the term "as American as apple pie".

7. The American Pie Council (APC) The American Pie Council (APC) is the only organization committed to preserving America's pie heritage and promoting American's love affair with pies. Designed to raise awareness, enjoyment and consumption of pies, the APC offers both Personal and Commercial Memberships. While the consumer member benefits from the exchange of recipes, in-store coupons and ideas from other pie lovers, the commercial member can participate in a variety of network and promotional opportunities provided by the American Pie Council. Important to the commercial member is the combined effort of the members of the American Pie Council to grow and improve the pie industry. The Pie Marketing Committee is actively focused on promoting programs that will help grow the pie industry.

8. Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

9. Ingredients 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp chopped unsalted peanuts, divided 1 prepared 9-inch (6 oz) chocolate crumb crust 2 Tbsp caramel topping, divided 1-2/3 cups (11 oz pkg) Nestle Toll House Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Morsels 1/4 cup milk 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1-1/2 cups frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed Easy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake Pie Directions Sprinkle 1/4 cup peanuts onto bottom of pie crust. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon caramel topping. Set aside. Combine morsels and milk in medium, uncovered microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on Medium-High (70%) power 45 seconds; stir. Morsels may retain some of their shape. If necessary, microwave an additional 10-to-15 second intervals, stirring until melted. Beat cream cheese and sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in chocolate mixture. Add whipping topping and stir vigorously until smooth. Spoon into prepared pie crust and swirl top. Sprinkle with remaining peanut and drizzle with remaining caramel topping. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour. Photo and Recipe Courtesy of The National Peanut Board.

10. Classic Strawberry Pie

11. Ingredients 1 pkg (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix 1 cup skim milk 9-inch prepared graham cracker pie crust or 9-inch homemade graham cracker crust 2 pt baskets California strawberries, stemmed Powdered sugar, for dusting Graham Cracker Crust 1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup melted margarine or butter Directions In bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk 2 minutes; chill 30 minutes. Spread pudding evenly in pie crust. Cover top of pie with strawberries, pointed ends up. Dust lightly with powered sugar. Graham Cracker Crust Directions Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In bowl mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted margarine or butter until thoroughly blended. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake in center of oven about 8 minutes until lightly brown, cool. Photo and Recipe Courtesy of The California Strawberry Commission.

12. What is Your Favorite Pie? List Name and Pie Favorites Below…

13. Submitted by Christina Baker Resident Assistant, University of Puget Sound