A Delicious Tradition: Pie Breakfast 2020
New Year’s Eve morning in the Groomes Family looks quite different than most as anywhere from 60-80 people (ranging from 6 months to 80 years-old) cycle through our home chatting together while tasting roughly 3 dozen different varieties of pie. We call this Pie Breakfast, and it is our most treasured family tradition.
Being a Navy family for the past 12 years has added such a fun dynamic to this tradition as many faces change with each duty station. It has always been a wonderful opportunity to bring together the various friend circles of each member of our family to share one last fellowship before we greet a new year. Serendipitously, every year we have had friends from past billets pop in knowing that we always have an open door for this delicious yearly tradition.
The “rules” to Pie Breakfast in our house are rather simple. Show up empty-handed and with a big appetite as everyone must cast a vote before leaving. My pie list is carefully curated each year and any pie that did not get a vote does not show up again. I find so much enjoyment scouring cookbooks for new pie recipes throughout the year to add to the list. Usually, the pies fit into one of four categories: baked pies, cream pies, ice box pies, and quiche. And yes, I am the sole baker of the pies and love the challenge of finding greater efficiency each year with prep and planning.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
However, as a result of the pandemic, Pie Breakfast 2020 looked much different this year. My husband is a doctor in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); consequently, we are in hard lockdown. No one except our immediate family is allowed inside our house. At first, I feared we would need to cancel our tradition and pray that next year things would be better. But then I decided to put into practice one of the greatest legacies that the pandemic taught me—the art of the flex. How could I keep this tradition alive and maybe even find a way to bless others? The answer was obvious—send the pies to the dedicated NICU staff to bring a sliver of joy to their grueling day.
Dr. Chase Groomes, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
I reduced the amount of pie to make the logistics easier and tried to select the pies that usually score high in the votes each year. On the menu for Pie Breakfast 2020 was Cranberry-Pear Pie, Apple Pie, Cherry Streusel Pie, Sugar Cream Pie, Southern Pie (a chess/flan hybrid), Banana Cream Pie, and Caramel Cold-Brew Icebox Pie. The resounding winner this year was Banana Cream Pie. I have included the recipe for anyone who might like to start the new year off with a nice slice of pie!
Award Winning Banana Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1 9-inch prepared graham-cracker or shortbread crust
14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk
1 (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
2 cups thawed whipped topping
2 bananas (sliced)
Instructions:
Mix milk and sweetened condensed milk until combined.
Sift pudding for any lumps and add to milk mixture; stir until well combined.
Fold in the whipped topping.
Slice one banana and place at bottom of prepared pie crust and then cover with one cup of the cream filling.
Top with second sliced banana and cover with the rest of the cream filling.
Optional: Top with additional whipped topping, chocolate shavings, or any desired garnish.
Chill for at least 2 hours; however, the flavors will blend best if chilled for 4+ hours.
Sally Anne Groomes
Washington D.C.
Sally Anne is a former literature professor who still cannot be caught without a book close at hand. Currently, she is raising her two kids, running many miles, and adventuring around the world one duty station at a time with her husband (a Navy doctor). She loves Jesus with all her heart and is learning daily how to count it all JOY.
Learn more about Sally Anne here and find her on Instagram at @sagroomes21.
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Whether you are looking for an advent devotional, a cozy nonfiction read, or a festive holiday fiction—here is a list of recommendations to get you started. I hope these encourage some special reading moments this Christmas season!