So National Cherry Pie Day is in two days. Yup! February 20th. As luck would have it – or maybe pie is as American as it gets and “they” planned it this way – so is President’s Day (aka George Washington’s birthday). The history of the holiday is of no small significance for Americans as it seeks to celebrate American presidents both past and present. But since it’s been aligned with National Cherry Pie day, it becomes relevant for all of us. Or at least for those of us who love cherries. Or pie, for that matter.
Cherry pie is not only quintessentially American, it’s also quintessentially delicious and creative! Using pie as a medium from which we can create something new allows us to generate new ideas about what is “pie”. As America reinvents itself and grows from president to president, so too can pie. It’s true – the major elements stay the same.
For example, in The States you’ll always have the people, the politicians, the values and the landscape that the country is situated in. However, how people engage with each other, the way values ebb and flow depending on the times and the borders of the nation can change.
The same can be said for cherry pie! You’ll always have some kind of cherries – Bing, Ranier, Tulare, Sweet, Sour, Fresh, Canned – as well as a “crust” of sorts, and of course, a mechanism to get it from point A to point B (container to mouth). But the type of cherry can shift, the extra flavors like citrus, liquor or sweetener can vary and what counts as crust is highly negotiable. In fact we have crust recipes for both savory as well as sweet versions.
You get the idea! Cherry pie, while definitely something from our past that demands respect, can act as a catalyst for something new. And while “they” may say that history – both national and pastry – is easy as pie, the art form that it takes to run a country or bake a pie is no small feat.
It’s always a learning experience and you’re guaranteed, no matter how qualified you are for the job, to make mistakes. Your dough may fall flat or be too dry or too wet. The sweetness level may not be right every time. The cherries could have too much water. Maybe you baked it too long or pulled it out of the oven too soon. And you know what? That’s okay. Cooking is an adventure – revel in it! Those experiences are what catalyst our knowledge to the next level and when we have the knowledge, we can innovate. We can create something new. We can materialize real wow moments! And that, my friends, is what life is all about!
So, whether you like your cherry pie as a traditional one, in a cup, as a bar, or straight out of the jar, it (and President’s Day) is something to be celebrated! Here’s a great big forkful of cherry pie for you and to America – cheers!
Do you celebrate President’s Day? Cherry pie? Have a favorite one? (of either)…? What pie can you just not get enough of? Share your comments below or on our Facebook Page!
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