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.

I was scanning my shelf of cookbooks tonight, when this one, the Complete Pie Cookbook leaped out at me. Being that we are approaching the end of the summer, the bounty of summer fruit is slightly overwhelming. Peaches, plums, nectarines and blackberries are cheap and gorgeous right now. Baking a pie is one good way of utilizing some of the summer abundance and make your friends and family happy at the same time.

The recipe after the jump is from a section called Peach Pies for Summer Suppers. The introduction to that section says, "Peach pie is a reward tired and hungry men who have worked late in the field trying to finish a job really appreciate. A cool evening and a peach pie are country joys to sample together."

photo by Marisa McClellan

If you have an excess of summer fruit and cannot think of what to do with it, I have only one word for you: pie. With a crust and some fruit you can do wondrous things and with the help of the recipes in Pie: 300 Tried-and-True Recipes for Delicious Homemade Pie, you should be able to get your technique down quicker than you might expect. The book is nearly exhaustive on making and shaping pie crusts, from materials to methods, and even an experienced pie maker could learn a thing or two just from reading the introduction. It is worth noting that crust instructions are given for working by hand and with the food processor or mixer, so those who don't have "pastry fingers" don't have to worry.

Though I mentioned fruit pies to begin with, don't think that those are all this book covers. It has nut pies, cream pies, custard pies and ice cream pies - in addition to just about every other type of pie you can think of. If you like pie, it's a must-have. And speaking of "having," here are a few of the recipes you'll find inside: Watermelon Chiffon Pie, Cherry Pie (9 kinds!), Blackberry Silk and Chocolate Brownie Pecan.