Grab your fork and mark your calendar because the 22nd annual Malibu Pie Festival will take place next Saturday, Oct. 15.
In the meantime, maybe you had better log some mileage on the track and get a few thousand sit-ups under your belt, just to make sure you have room to sample the wares.
Hosted by the in the church courtyard at 30128 Morning View Drive from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Pie Festival is one of the delicious harbingers of fall for the city. It is a day to relax, have some fun chatting with neighbors, listen to the bands play in the warm Malibu sunshine and enjoy the sweet things in life—namely, pie!
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Some 80 pies are baked and entered in the contest, then judged and served up to hungry festivalgoers for a few bucks a slice.
"Last year, the kids' category was our largest category, followed by apple," said church office administrator Mattie Gullatt, who also helps administer the event. "So, this year we added another age level to the kids—they now have categories for ages 6 and under, ages 7 to 10 and ages 11 to 14."
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Gullatt added, "The kids have really fun names for their pies, like Fruity Pebble Pie, Chocolate Rock Pie, Radical Raspberry Lemon Pie and Midnight Pudding Fudge."
She noted that some children enter the adult division and do well. For example, fourth-grade grade class last year received fourth place in the adult apple pie division.
In addition to pies baked by contestants, there are many pies for sale made by the skilled bakers from the church.
The festival has another purpose, aside from a sweet Saturday outing. It raises money to fund various church service projects aimed at making a difference in families, the community and the world. All the proceeds from the Pie Festival go to the church's Children, Youth and Family ministry and its programs for outreach, youth community service and after-school.
These outreach programs include the annual Thanksgiving dinner for the less fortunate, stocking the pantry, spreading holiday cheer to families through Angel Tree, the Sierra Service Project to repair Native American homes in the Susanville area and making and delivering blankets to fieldworkers.
Go here to read more about the Malibu Pie Festival and watch a short video featuring past editions of the event. Go here to download a pie entry form or make a donation.
If you are in a baking mood, fire up the oven and work on your entry. It will be baking for a good cause. I'm definitely entering.
To whet your appetite, we have a recipe from 2009, shared by Lynda Pingatore, for a delicious lemon pie. It was a contest winner, so you can bet it's a keeper.
Never Fail Lemon Meringue Pie
From Lynda Pingatore
1st Place Winner, 2009
One 9-inch prebaked pie crust (almost golden brown)
Combine in saucepan:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold spring water
Stir in 1 1/4 cup hot water.
Cook and stir with wire whisk until thick and smooth.
Stir in 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh lemon peel and 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten (from room temperature eggs).
Remove from heat.
Stir in 2 tablespoons butter.
While filling is cooling, beat 3 egg whites until stiff. Add a pinch of cream of tartar and 1/4 cup sugar, one tablespoon at a time. With a spatula, spoon meringue gently on top, making peaks and valleys. Cook 20 minutes at 300 degrees. Cool well before serving.
Nom nom!
