pumpkin pie

Ah, pumpkin pie. One of the most sought-after pies during fall in Illinois. Why though? There's actually a reason we love it so much!

Pie, like ice cream, does not have a season.

Illinois Thanksgiving cooks, we need to have a talk. If a newly-released survey is accurate, the favorite Thanksgiving side dish in Illinois is just so weird. There is no other state in America that prefers what Illinois does and I have so many questions.

Crust me when I say I'm very, very happy that this is the most popular pie in Illinois.

"Hey, let's scoop all the junk out of that gourd and eat it on some pastry! Who's with me?" --The pilgrim who invented pumpkin pie, November 1621

According to the saying, "you learn something new every day." I can't personally vouch for having learned something new each day, but today, for me, it's true. I didn't know before, but there are Guinness World Records that involve Thanksgiving. About the only record I see myself setting would be "fastest asleep on the couch post-dessert."

I love a good pumpkin pie, though you could make the argument it's the combination of pumpkin and Cool Whip/whipped cream that makes it really special. Sometimes on my plate it's hard to see the pie at all through the creamy dairy topping...