GEORGIA

GEORGIA - Pie #10 of 50 - Patrick Racheff

Georgia the only "G" state

State Prepared Food: Grits
State Fruit: Peaches
State Vegetable: Vidalia sweet onion

Georgia is always on my mind. Georgia was and is one of my homes (YAY SAVANNAH). I went to college in a Georgia (YAY SCAD!). I lived in Georgia for four years. Georgia is where I feel I truly grew up. It's where I learnt I could chug a beer wicked fast, it's where I felt true heartbreak for the first time, it's where I learnt and honed all the skills I have today physically, mentally, emotionally and professionally. 

Georgia will be a part of me with every peach I eat where the juice runs down my face. 

Georgia's pie is a stewed sweet tea peach pie with brown sugar pecan crumble! Sickly sweet and oh so charming. 

Georgia is for my roommate of 6 years and the brother I've always wanted Patrick Racheff. Patrick & I met in college. We would sit in gallery espresso in Savannah, GA drink tea and bitch about life. Then we would go to Target. Patrick & I packed a large moving truck and drove up to New York together. He lives with me and puts up with me constantly baking pies he doesn't get to eat and and my endless growing collection of what he calls "frick frack and brick a brack". It's stuff I like collecting things like the little mermaid. It's also for his family his dad Tony, mom Kath, his brother Stephen and his wife Sarah! Thanks for letting me spend holidays with y'all. 

Georgia is also for everyone I went to college with thank you for making me the woman I am today. It is for the Atkins Family. Cobra especially thank you for taking such good care of me while I was there. It is for Cheryl Day and Back and the Day bakery for keeping me well fed. It is for The Rail Pub where I drank, sang, kissed and had a grand old time. It is for Swoops ATL the worst moped gang ever. 

LAST but not least thank you to the Savannah College of Art and Design. I owe all my greatest knowledge, my greatest loves and greatest friendships to you. 

Georgia you are always on my mind... and in my heart. 

Now on to some island vibes with the only "H" state. 

FLORIDA

FLORIDA - Pie #9 of 50 - Danielle Lamotte, Megan Balch & Jaime Barker

Florida the only "F" state
State Beverage: Orange Juice
State Fruit: Orange
State Pie: Key Lime Pie

Florida! I know Florida gets a lot of shit for being a whacko state but i've only felt the sunshine from the tail end of the east coast.

Ever since I went to Disney World for the first time when I was a tiny tot to when I went back last month to celebrate my friend Suzy who's a bride to be. Florida has treated me with nothing but sunshine, daiquiris and good times.

Florida has a state pie! Key Lime Pie to be exact! So i thought I would oblige.
Its a Key Lime Pie with key limes straight from the sunshine state, a home made graham cracker crust and whipped cream of course! Let me tell you making graham crackers for the crust in heart shapes and crushing them up was a pretty swell time.

This pie is for a multitude of people I love.
This is getting consumed by the three girl bosses at Flagpole Swim who grew up together in the sunshine, by the ocean and with the sand in between their toes, Danielle Lamotte, Jaime Barker & Megan Balch. Whenever i'm with the three of them it's like the first day at the beach on the first day of summer, splendid.

This pie is also dedicated to my second familia The Jones Family (Darrell, Allison, Haley my dream girl & Hayden LHTCB) I am the rebellious daughter you never wanted but got anyway, The Dusch Family (Suzanne, Frank, Toaster & Suzy who call Florida home) if your home could be recreated in the Sims I hope I would be the Sim that lived in it and The Van Meter Family (John, Katie, Jenny and i guess Libby ;P) thank you for every dinner at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and for the fun times driving around Celebration in the NEV.

I would also like to thank Publix grocery stores from Winter Haven, FL. Your sub sandwiches give me life.

Florida you truly are the Sunshine State.

Next the one and only "G" state

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Nation's Capital

WASHINGTON D.C. -  The Nations Capitol - Alex Collins

So technically Washington the federal District of Columbia sandwiched between Maryland & Virginia is not a state, but it is the nation's capital! (could be a state soon)

This pie is coming out on Election Day 2016. This presidential race between Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton has been a roller coaster to say the least but I have faith in my heart America will make the right decision. 

I have only been to D.C once for about 30 mins when I was taking the bus with Paul to Virginia for Thanksgiving 2016. His mother Melanie picked us up from the D.C bus station.

I do feel I need to go back just so I can see the White House, the Lincoln memorial (I want to eat a sandwich on the steps) and Julia Child's kitchen in the Smithsonion. I do have a romantic idea of leaving a stick of butter there the way Julie Powell did in Julie & Julia (which I used to watch every time I was sad and I always skipped over the Julie parts just so I could get more Meryl Streep & Stanley Tucci screen time chemistry).

So for D.C. I have decided to do a cherry pie with a crust portrait of George Washington the first president of the United States. I only recently learnt about the story of George Washington and the cherry tree and thought for this district pie this was appropriate. Plus DC hosts one of the largest cherry blossom tree festivals outside of Japan.
I've been looking for a placemat with all the presidents like all the kids in America I feel had. Think I should go to DC and get myself one.

This pie is for Alex Collins. I went to college with AC but officially met him when I was at the pit of one of the worst hangovers in my life at the Brazilian restaurant Miss Favela's in Williamsburg with a live band blasting for Lauren Rinaldi's birthday. PIT OF SADNESS! But from sadness comes beautiful friendship. AC gave me some of my favorites patches that he designed himself, space camp themed which I have sewn on my most favorite jean jacket. Our friendship was further cemented when we went upstate for a weekend to what we all refer to as "Camp Moreno" and we built beautiful wizard staffs out of all the beers we consumed that weekend.

D.C. Is also dedicated to BO OBAMA! The cutest Obama pup. (Sorry sunny) Amy Hedgepath who lives there now with her beautiful pup and fiancé. Anne Mallett who lives there now with her cute pup Atlas and to my friend who thought me to never trust a big butt with a smile David "Dr. Dave" Moscati and his pup Sacha.

D.C. Thank you for celebrating & discovering the American experience.

On to the "F" states!

 

DELAWARE

DELAWARE - Pie #8 of 50 - Joe Biden & Stephani Stilwell

Delaware the only "D" state!
State Dessert: Peach Custard Pie

Delaware gifted me a state dessert that's oh so sweet! Ending the summer with this Peach Custard beauty!

Delaware was the first state to be declared a state and the first state where peaches were planted and grown in the 17th century!

This pie is dedicated to the coolest VP and long time crush of Leslie Knope, Vice President Joe Biden. Who served the state for 36 years in the US senate before becoming the 47th Vice President of the United States! I wrote a letter to the White House seeing if I could gift Joe Biden the pie. No reply yet I bet Bo or Sunny Obama probably stole the letter from the mail man since it probably smelt like warm butter and sugar.

This pie is also dedicated too a very talented pattern pioneer Stephani Stilwell who was introduced to me by the king of swoops and loops Brian Kaspr. Stephani resides in Delaware were she creates most fanciful and beautiful things. She even did a beautiful illustration of my Delaware pie recipe! Next time I'm anywhere near Delaware expect a surprise pie delivery.

Delaware in most and almost all cases "It's good to be first"

Next up a district not a state!

CONNECTICUT

CONNECTICUT - Pie #7 of 50 - Kyle Miklave, Lauren Rinaldi & Julia Grunwalski
Connecticut! The last of the "C" states!
State Cookie: Snickerdoodles
State Dessert: Ice Cream
State Prepared Dish: Mystic Pizza

Connecticut is coming in hot with the state desserts and food! Snickerdoodles coincidentally are my most favorite kind of cookie! So a snickerdoodle soufflé pie! Sweet and simple for this member of the tri state.

I spent 2 summers as a teenager in New Haven, CT at summer camp at Yale where I threw video cameras at walls, made sculptures with the pieces, fell for American boys, listened to "pieces of me" by Ashlee Simpson on repeat, went to my first baseball game, had my first taste of "Chinese" food in take out boxes, wore really frosty lip gloss and explored and fell for the North East.
I road tripped it to Connecticut with Lauren to deliver the pie! We all met at Claire's Cornucopia in New Haven where as a teenager I'm pretty sure I consumed my body weight in their vegetarian nachos.

This pie is going to three very special people in my life:
Kyle Miklave. Kyle is one of my best friends from college we rip each other apart only to build each other back up. He has always been there for me when I need a buddy to drink PBRs, scream sing punk songs too but most importantly to have deep meaningful conversations with in our underwear while eating sub sandwiches and watching rom coms.
Julia Grunwalski. Julia is Kyle's lady and I couldn't be happier he started dating her and introduced us. It was love at first whiskey shot. She has become a staple in my life and always keeps me updated on what lipstick I should be wearing and my heart in the right place.
Last but not least Lauren Rinaldi. I have known Lauren since the first week of college. We met almost a decade ago when she asked me if I wanted to join the SCAD cheerleading team. I'm pretty sure I was an absolute bitch to her and probably flicked her off but she gave me a second chance and here we are ten years later singing tunes, going on road trips and I couldn't imagine living in New York without her smile.

This pie is also dedicated to a one of "KB's Bandits" and absolute dime Chloe Post.

Connecticut you sure are "Full of Surprises"!

COLORADO

COLORADO - Pie #6 of 50 - Emily Foelske & Dan Gleason

I want to start by saying I love Colorado. I have only been once but I have never breathed air so fresh and been so happy in my entire life to be roaming around in the snow. Also I had the most bomb Mexican food rivaled only by Mexican food I've had in California. Maybe the west is calling me who knows?! I FREAKING LOVE COLORADO.

Colorado has no state foods UGH but you know what comes from Colorado? Coors. What I love about Coors is that with a Coors you always think you're going to a party but you end up at a banquet. A beer pie though? Gross! So I did a little more research and it lead me to bison! Bison kick it and chill it at the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Refuge living their majestic lives. So here you go a bison Coors stew pie with an herbed crust and a little fun and fancy crust decoration. The bison I got from Roaming Acres Farm they have the best unique meat in the tri state area and amazing dog bones and treats for yah pups too. I painted the little Buffaloes with espresso for a little dark brown finish. I arranged them in a fun "roaming" pattern too. Get it? Haha

Colorado I hope to see you sooner than later if anyone wants to go holler at me I'll drive, I'll buy beer and let's be honest I'll bake a pie for the road trip too. Feel free to ask Charles Woodbury and Jake Davis for a testimonial on my road trip hand pies. Because driving a car should never hold you back from eating pie.

This pie is going to my boss Emily who grew up in Boulder and my favorite ray of sunshine Dan who grew up just over the mountain from the Coors brewery. I sit between them at work and I couldn't be happier to be the meat in our design office sandwich!

This pie is also dedicated to a few fine folks who call this state home! My college roommate Jessica Chavez and her big little sister Tina Chavez you guys are the tiniest people with the biggest hearts. My constant source of design inspiration Kyle Read and his beautiful lady Hannah Radner. Caitlin McNeill and her hound dog Anne bananeeee! And last but not least to a beautiful baby pup Jackson Woodbury. I made Jack a mini version of the pie shaped like a buffalo cause I love him so.

Colorado you are the centennial state but I know you will always serve me fresh air and fond memories daily!

See you sooner than later.
 

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA - Pie #5 of 50 - Lauren Vass

Starting the C states off with a state that is near and dear to my heart! It's home to just some of the greatest people and pups (AsparaGUS Phillips I'm talking about you pug) I've ever come to know! The love for northern and Southern California is equal.

State Fruit: Avocado
State Grain: Rice
State Vegetable: Artichoke
State Nut: Almond

So the obvious thing would be for me to make a pie with some sort of avocado situation since on most menus if it tells you that it's got avocado on it it must be from California. The thing is hot avocados kinda gross me out maybe its the texture. So here is my interpretation of some of the above ingredients minus the avocado.

It's a artichoke pie with a savory almond crumble and a red wine reduction (the wine is from California)! A little from the north and a little from the south of the state. Thought the acidity of the red wine would be nice with the creamy artichoke filling.

California what can I say about you! From the beach, to the vineyards to the mountains.
You're home to one of my all time favorite breakfast foods ( "The Rebel Within" at Craftsman and Wolves in San Francisco), you are home to the bakery I constantly have dreams about ( Tartine Bakery - Chad Robertson you flour covered babe), you are home to Thomas Keller (the fried chicken dinner at Ad Hoc honestly changes lives). Fremont Diner gets a notable mention for good vibes and pie out of a Shasta trailer (literally my life goal).

California is home to countless national parks, Big Sur, US route 1 (which I drove down for my 21st birthday with Zach and Jess in a bomb ass Dodge Charger).
The list is honestly endless.
I love California deep and true.

This pie is going to one of the only California natives that left the west coast and lives out east with me Lauren Vass! My birthday twin and the queen of cool. College and Fibers wouldn't have been the same without your sweet soul to hang time chill time with.

This pie is also dedicated to all the peeps that call the golden state home!
You know who you are their are literally too many of you to name xoxo

Honorable mention to Zach Marshall. You kid took me to the holy grail of taco places in Marina del rey. El tarasco is king.

California : Eureka! You are the golden state!

ARKANSAS

Pie #4 of 50 - June 2016 - Kat Ryals

From two states with absolutely no state foods Arkansas you are coming in HOT with representative state foods!!
State beverage: Cow's milk
State fruit/vegetable: South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato
State Grain: rice
State Grape: Cynthiana
State Nut: Pecan

I was seriously spoilt for choice! So I thought I would try my hand at a savory pie!
So here ya have it! A heirloom tomato and cow's milk cheese pie with an herbed crust! The cheese and tomatoes are from the Prospect Park farmers market and the herbs are from the window sill in my kitchen.

This pie is for Kat Ryals. Kat is the only other person who I can truly say loves Dolly Parton and Katy Perry as much as I do. She also like me appreciates a good themed outfit and the fact that she finally got the baby Pom pup she has always wanted let's me know that dreams really do come true when you wish hard enough!

This pie is also dedicated to a constant source of joy in my life Olan (Kent) Reeves! Thank you for making all the fibers classes we took in college together and every trip to Joann's so enjoyable. You are sunshine on a cloudy day, a constant inspiration to keep crafting and too arrange things in rainbow order! Stay golden lovely!

This is the end of the A states!

Arkansas you are now the natural state but let's be honest you'll always be the land of opportunity to me!

Knock knock California, Colorado & Connecticut you're up next!!

ARIZONA

Pie #3 of 50 - June 2016 - Sierra Seip

Another state with no state fruits or foods! C'mon Arizona! So I put my thinking cap on and googled food products commonly found/eaten in the area and came up with the prickly pear!

Let me tell you finding a prickly pear cactus fruit in NYC was a huge huge challenge. I called about every grocer in the greater New York City, Brooklyn and Queens area with no luck! All my co-workers checked all the stores around them and in New Jersey too with no luck! I was about to lose faith and just throw caution to the wind and order fruit online, where the shipping is just as much as the fruits itself and you have no idea what you are getting UGH!

But not all hope was lost!

Who came to the rescue? THE SEIP FAMILY OF ARIZONA! I knew I wanted to give this pie to Sierra Seip for a reason! A huge huge thanks to her brother Colin for picking them up for me and shipping them so quickly!

So like I said above this pie is for Sierra Seip one of the best interns I have ever had the pleasure of working with! This pie wouldn't have ever gotten made without you and your sweet family! Thank you thank you thank you!

Voila! A prickly pear pie with blushing apples and candied ginger! Had a little fun with the crust. The coyote cut out with a cookie cutter my roommate Patrick got me from Arizona while he was visiting his parents when they were living there and a little experimentation of painting crusts with a beet "paint" mixture I cooked up.

This pie truly took a village to make. THANK YOU to everyone who helped out its very very appreciated! Beyond words! Pie anytime you want you know who you are! (Sierra, Colin, Emily, Kirsten & Amy)

Arizona : The Grand Canyon state. You truly are grand.

Side bar: I'm totally taking myself to the Grand Canyon when I complete my pie project and I'm going to sit with my feet dangled off the edge in silence, drink never ending PBRs and watch the sun rise and set till my hearts content.

ALASKA

Pie #2 - May 2016 - Alex Miller

The last frontier!

So Alaska doesn't have a state fruit, a state nut, not even a stat pastry! but what Alaska does have is a great dessert named after it with variations and origins in the United States and in Hong Kong! Which is pretty amazing cause I grew up in Hong Kong and now live in the U.S. of A!

So here ya go! this is a baked Alaska pie with homemade vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream topped with the soft peaks of a toasted meringue!

This pie was a doozy took about 48 hours to complete including a lot of waiting for things to set up, churn and freeze. So as you can imagine there was a lot of movie watching, singing loudly with my eyes closed and snacking while I was waiting for everything to set up. 

So this pie is for Alex Miller. He isn't from Alaska but he is spending the endless summer in the last frontier and since I can't ship an ice cream pie for once in my life I get to have my pie and eat it too!

Kelsie, Chuck, Patrick and I consumed it on his behalf. I promise to make him another one when he comes back. 

I couldn't find one person from Alaska! I guess i'll just have to go and make some new friends!

Alaska you are beyond my dreams but within my reach.

xo

ALABAMA

Pie #1 - May 2016 - Adam Porter

The pie is a peach, black berry pie with a salted pecan brown sugar crumble topping. 

The state fruit of Alabama is the blackberry, the state tree fruit is the peach and the state nut is the pecan! It was great making this pie the peaches and blackberries just look so darn beautiful together and who doesn't love a crumble topping! 

This pie is for Adam Zachery Porter. The first person I ever met from Alabama. I have been to Adam's hometown and coincidentally know a bunch of people he went to high school with because they all ended up at the same college with me! (yay SCAD!) My roommate in college is from Alabama as well (yay Jessica Chavez!) shout outs to the Chavez family, Chelsea Holeman, Laura Eisle and Jennifer Hathorn. Also to the Steak Out fast food join that Jess's friend April worked at. Their baked potato is amazing. 

Fun Fact: Madison, Alabama is the first place I ever got in a girl fight defending the honor of a friend. Don't worry, I won. 

The stars truly fell on Alabama.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama Recorded Live: 7/2/1977 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium - Oakland, CA More Lynyrd Skynyrd at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com Subscribe to Music Vault on YouTube: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF Personnel: Ronnie Van Zant - vocals Allen Collins - guitar Gary Rossington - guitar Steve Gaines - guitar Artimus Pyle

Kicking it off with a little stars and stripes...

Thought I would kick off the project with a Flag pie!
What better way to start the journey than with a little stars and stripes. 

Here is the Queen Dolly Parton sining the Star Spangled Banner. Don't worry this was playing on repeat while the pie was being made. 

To the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

dolly parton for GOD and COUNTRY