At least once a summer, my mom makes a pie for no particular reason. When my sister was living at home, she'd do her best to plan the pie seed and continue to talk about blueberry pie or blackberry galette until my mom could resist temptation no longer. She'll pull out the rolling pin she bought used when my parents first got married (it has a wonderfully butter, seasoned surface) and make a sincerely transcendent dessert.
If you live in the Portland (Oregon, not Maine) area, you have good reason to pull out your rolling pin this weekend. The first-ever Portland Pie-Off is taking place at the Washington Park picnic site (near the playground) this Saturday (August 30th) at 3 pm. There are eight categories to enter and 12 categories from which prizes will be awarded (there is a $5 entrance fee). So pull out your pie plates and get out the flour, cause it's pie baking time!
Even if you don't live in the Portland area, let this contest serve as inspiration to you to bake up a pie before the summer is over. Take a picture and add it to the Slashfood Flickr pool. Be it blueberry, blackberry, cherry or apple, there's nothing quite like a good slice of pie.
I devoured these as a kid*. They were one of the regular junk food items my sister and I would buy at the store down the street to eat while watching The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family on Friday nights. I saw them at the store the other day and decided to pick up a box. 
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
