"Pies" news and stories

Soupy Sales, the comedian responsible for 20,000 pies to the face, has died at the age of 83.

Sales, who built his comedic reputation with characters like White Fang and Black Tooth on children's TV shows in Detroit and New York, took his first cream pie to the face in 1951, the Associated Press reports. He died Thursday in a hospice in the Bronx, N.Y., after battling health problems.

"I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right," Sales said in 1985.

Have any Soupy pie memories? Let us know in the comments below.

[Via Associated Press]

Even though it hasn't cooled off that much in my corner of the world, it is technically fall and that means it's pie season. I like to make a wide variety of pies, and that doesn't just mean the filling. There's a whole world of pie and tart crusts out there for an almost endless list of possibilities this fall. Click through to the next few pages for everything you'll need to know about pie and tart crusts for great pies this fall.

Like Gael over at Pop Culture Junk Mail, I didn't even realize that Hostess got rid of the magician guy who was on the front of their pies since the early 70s. I don't usually buy snack pies anymore, though I do love them (both Hostess and Drake's).

I know that products and companies and logos have to change over the years, but I always feel a little sad when a classic character or design is changed. Really, did the change improve sales? You would think that keeping a classic character would endear a company to loyal customers even more.

Now if someone could answer this question. What exactly was the magician? Was he human? The body shape suggests a banana, or some sort of legless apple slice. Or maybe the Penguin from Batman.

Pie is probably one of America's favorite desserts. The question is what is America's favorite kind of pie?

Michael Park over at Epicurious.com gives us some answers. He revealed a pie poll from the makers of Mrs. Smiths, Schwans Consumer Brands North America. The poll asked participants to name their three favorite pies. Which one came in first, you ask? Well, it was apple of course! Turns out it was the overwhelming favorite.

I was personally surprised that Key lime pie was at the bottom of the list. But I guess with so many kinds of pie out there, it's a measure of the popularity of key lime pie that it made the list at all. So how about it? What's your favorite kind of pie?

I don't know about you, but I've always been daunted by pie crusts. Even with working in a professional pastry kitchen, I'm hesitant to try it at home. I can make pie dough in large batches, no problem, but that doesn't translate to single pies/ home baking very well.

There is hope, though. Check out the step by step walk through you get from Baker's banter, and you'll realize that you too can make great pie crusts at home. The instructions are simple and direct, there are lots of pictures, and you get lots of great tips. If you've been wanting to make pie at home, but have been nervous about it, take a look at this article. I know I'm keeping this information saved for the next time I want to make pie.