Pie contests—the hot new trend in party games! Pie Contest in a Box is for farmers' market foodies, retro cocktail party lovers, competitive-cooking-show fans, block partiers, and just about everyone else who shares a hankering for good times and good pie. In the blue-ribbon tradition of county fairs, community cook-offs, and competitive cooking shows such as Iron Chef America, Top Chef, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Pie Contest in a Box represents a fun and inexpensive way to entertain. The kit features: * A Pie Contest Handbook, which orients judges to the history of pie, discusses why pie matters, outlines different categories of pie and official judging criteria, and includes prize-winning recipes * Pie Contest Judge Badges * Numbered Pie Toppers on Toothpicks * Pie Contest Scorecards * Pie Contest Prize Ribbons Pie Contest in a Box will have guests clamoring for a slice of blueberry or strawberry rhubarb, along with their scorecard and fork.

“An excellent resource for home bakers looking to up their pie game." – Publishers Weekly, starred review "The wide-ranging, well-curated mix of classic and contemporary recipes and expert advice make this an essential primer for avid home bakers." – Library Journal, starred review "Readers will find everything they'd ever want to know about making pie, and even the dough-fearful will feel ready to measure, roll, and cut." – Booklist, starred review “Fear of pie? Ken Haedrich to the rescue. Pie Academy takes you through everything pie related — perfect crusts, fillings, crimping techniques, blind baking, lattice toppings and more.” — Kathy Gunst, coauthor of Rage Baking and resident chef for NPR’s Here and Now “A true baker’s delight.”— Amy Traverso, Yankee magazine food editor and author of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook Trusted cookbook author and pie expert Ken Haedrich delivers the only pie cookbook you’ll ever need: Pie Academy. Novice and experienced bakers will discover the secrets to baking a pie from scratch, with recipes, crust savvy, tips and tutorials, advice about tools and ingredients, and more. Foolproof step-by-step photos give you the confidence you need to choose and prepare the best crust for different types of fillings. Learn how to make pie dough using butter, lard, or both; how to work with all-purpose, whole-wheat, or gluten-free flour; how to roll out dough; which pie pan to use; and how to add flawless finishing details like fluting and lattice tops. Next are 255 recipes for every kind and style of pie, from classic apple pie and pumpkin pie to summer berry, fruit, nut, custard, chiffon, and cream pies, freezer pies, slab pies, hand pies, turnovers, and much more. This beast of a collection, with gorgeous color photos throughout, weighs in at nearly four pounds and serves up forty years of pie wisdom in a single, satisfying package.

"Mix in one part Diane Mott ­Davidson’s delightful culinary adventures with several tablespoons of Jan Karon’s country living and quirky characters, bake at 350 degrees for one rich and warm romance." --Library Journal A full-hearted novel about a big-city baker who discovers the true meaning of home—and that sometimes the best things are found when you didn’t even know you were looking When Olivia Rawlings—pastry chef extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club—sets not just her flambéed dessert but the entire building alight, she escapes to the most comforting place she can think of—the idyllic town of Guthrie, Vermont, home of Bag Balm, the country’s longest-running contra dance, and her best friend Hannah. But the getaway turns into something more lasting when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, offers Livvy a job. Broke and knowing that her days at the club are numbered, Livvy accepts. Livvy moves with her larger-than-life, uberenthusiastic dog, Salty, into a sugarhouse on the inn’s property and begins creating her mouthwatering desserts for the residents of Guthrie. She soon uncovers the real reason she has been hired—to help Margaret reclaim the inn’s blue ribbon status at the annual county fair apple pie contest. With the joys of a fragrant kitchen, the sound of banjos and fiddles being tuned in a barn, and the crisp scent of the orchard just outside the front door, Livvy soon finds herself immersed in small town life. And when she meets Martin McCracken, the Guthrie native who has returned from Seattle to tend his ailing father, Livvy comes to understand that she may not be as alone in this world as she once thought. But then another new arrival takes the community by surprise, and Livvy must decide whether to do what she does best and flee—or stay and finally discover what it means to belong. Olivia Rawlings may finally find out that the life you want may not be the one you expected—it could be even better.

When a tornado completely destroys Charley and Francine Simson\'s beloved bed and breakfast, they decide to move on. Finding a forlorn small Southern town that had seen better days, the opportunity to start over becomes a reality. In a light bulb moment, the Simsons see that the entire community needs revitalization. With determination, Charley elicits help from the townsfolk to renovate the town square and rebuild the economy. Just as improvements materialize, preparing for the Prickleberry Pie Contest, tragedy strikes. Contest excitement intensifies as Chefs James Beard and Julia Child, humorist Irma Bombeck, and country stars Minnie Pearl and Roy Clark come to help out. As a lovable cast of characters provide tales of personal adversity and coping skills, they prove challenges can be met. Their heartwarming stories laced with humor will make you want to stay in Welcome Home, Arkansas, plus keep the collection of their country style pie recipes dating back a century to the mid-1960s.

Small bites and treats to share The best gatherings are simple, yet somehow special. They might begin with an impromptu picnic after shopping at the farmer’s market or a late lunch with neighbors that stretches into cocktails under the stars. Whatever the occasion, this picture-perfect cookbook shows how to turn any meal into a delectable affair. These effortless recipes for brunch, teatime, happy hours, picnics, potlucks, and dessert all include a whimsical twist: a few slices of French toast doused in lavender syrup, rainbow chard empanadas served with pistachio crema, or a vibrant purple cauliflower hummus. With tips on creating an inviting table, stocking a pantry to make last-minute nibbles, and packing delicious parting gifts for guests, Food with Friends will inspire any get-together, however large or small.

Highlights Puzzle Readers offer an innovative approach to learning that integrates puzzles and stories to develop motivated, confident readers. These Level 1 books are perfect for kids who are reading simple sight words and sounding out decodable text. Maggie and Pie are bird buddies that love to cook—but sometimes Maggie gets a little mixed up! As they bake cookies in this Level 1 Highlights Puzzle Reader, kids can use clues in the story to find the supplies they need in simple visual puzzles that double as picture support for the text. With a bonus recipe, Maggie and Pie and the Cookie Contest will appeal to junior chefs who are just discovering reading.

Pie Contest in a Box is for farmers' market foodies, retro cocktail party lovers, competitive-cooking-show fans, block partiers, and just about everyone else who shares a hankering for good times and good pie. In the blue-ribbon tradition of county fairs, community cook-offs, and competitive cooking shows such as Iron Chef America, Top Chef, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Pie Contest in a Box represents a fun and inexpensive way to entertain. The kit features: * A Pie Contest Handbook, which orients judges to the history of pie, discusses why pie matters, outlines different categories of pie and official judging criteria, and includes prize-winning recipes * Pie Contest Judge Badges * Numbered Pie Toppers on Toothpicks * Pie Contest Scorecards * Pie Contest Prize Ribbons Pie Contest in a Box will have guests clamoring for a slice of blueberry or strawberry rhubarb, along with their scorecard and fork.