IT'S PIE DAY

                                 PIE WARS

My dad is so fond of pie that on occasion, he'll forgo the diet to fork into a sugar-dusted, ripple-topped pie stuffed with soft, gooey apples. His most difficult separation from this fond childhood food memory was during World War II.   After so long in the trenches, V-Day brought - well, almost - sweet victory.   Jammed into the home-bound freighter, he watched stomachs heaving with the lurches and menus improving over C-rations. There was a lot of eating to catch up on.

Then one day the announcement came -- tomorrow we will have pie! 

Dad hadn't considered that his dreamed-of reunion with pie would come so soon.  The next morning, he was all anticipation.  Will it be apple?  One crust or two?  A la mode?  As lunch drew near, he edged up toward the front of the line.  Lunch would be quick, topped off with a juicy, flaky wedge, topped with - dare he think? - a scoop of vanilla.

The pie was pizza pie.

Which he never really liked.

Now every day is a new opportunity for pie, whether pumpkin, apple, chocolate, blueberry or peach.  It's all the same, when you've paid your dues to your country.  

Here's a pie recipe Dad approves of, from my book, The Mushroom Lover's Mushroom Cookbook and Primer.   Plum Tart with Walnut Crust