I first met Trisha when we ended up beside each other at the Cranbrook Farmers Market this year.  She is one of the nicest people ever . . . and a fabulous pie make to boot!  This woman does it all . . . butchers her own chickens and pigs, is a mother of two, a wife to a blacksmith, a teacher, a business woman and a wonderfully kind human being!

Trisha’s pie company is call U-Bake Perfect Pies, and what makes her pies unique, is that you take them home frozen, and bake them yourself!  We did a little Farmers Market bartering and ended up trading some cupcakes for a Strawberry Rhubarb pie and I can honestly say it was delicious . . . just that perfect tartness that rhubarb lovers crave.

For Thanksgiving, I NEEDED a pumpkin pie from her.  I love pumpkin pie . . . it’s my favourite.  After the great introduction via her Strawberry Rhubarb pie, I knew pumpkin, made from real pumpkins, that she carves out herself, would be amazing!

Ready to head into the oven.

Interview with Trisha from U-Bake Perfect Pies

Why did you decide to sell frozen pies instead of cooked?

Frozen, unbaked pies are so much more convenient for me to sell. I don’t have to take the extra time and effort to bake them at home, which would seriously inconvenience me, considering the number of pies I sell per week (40-50 on average during the summer). Frozen pies are also incredibly easy to transport. They’re rock solid, so I can stack them in coolers and pack them to the Farmers’ Market with no fuss at all. I also find a “u-bake” pie is a huge hit for customers. It allows them to have some level of “ownership” in the making of the pie. They feel like they’ve had something to do with creating this beautiful dessert! They also have their house filled with that aroma of a fresh-baked pie, which nothing can beat! And some people also have no problem announcing to their guests that they’ve just “baked” a pie – “come on over for dessert!”.  I love it!!

How you can get ahold of Trisha to order one of her great pies!

How long does it take you to make one pie, from start to finish?

I do not know how long it takes me to make ONE pie. I don’t think I’ve ever made just one pie. I’m not kidding. I only know how to make seven pies at a time. It’s just the recipe my nana taught my mom, and my mom taught me. It takes me an hour and a half to make seven pies. Keeping in mind, all my fruit is pre-chopped and ready to go (pounds upon pounds of rhubarb, peaches, strawberries, apples, etc, are washed and chopped all in one fell swoop, then frozen for future use). So that hour and a half is just making the pastry, rolling it all out and fitting it into plates, then filling the bottom crust with fruit, sugar, and other secret stuff, then fitting on the top crust.

Baking Instructions and everything you need to know about the product.

How long will one of your frozen pies last?

A frozen pie will last four months in the freezer. That’s just the “official” recommended time. I have lots of customers who buy 5 and 10 pies at a time, then keep them in the freezer to have handy for up to 6 months.

Hot, out of the oven! Mmmm.

What is your favourite pie and why?

My favourite pie changes every few weeks. Seems to be with whatever fruit is in season. At the beginning of the summer, I taste a strawberry rhubarb pie and declare that it is my favourite. Then raspberries come into season, and I try one of those. I then remember from the year before how much I love a good raspberry pie. Then the sour cherries start ripening, and I gotta bake up a tart cherry pie. I love a tart cherry pie. But then at the end of the summer, peaches are in season. I start to remember from last year that peach pies are amazing. So then there’s nothing that beats a peach pie. But if I could only choose one, it would probably be Tart Cherry. Mmmm, you’ve not had a cherry pie unless it’s a tart cherry pie, made with sour cherries, also known as pie cherries. It’s nothing like that canned cherry pie filling you buy in the grocery store…

I. Must. Eat. You. Now.

What makes my pies better than any others?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one. Of course I’m biased and will always think mine are the best. It seems to me that a lot of people have trouble making a light, flaky pastry. I guess that’s what makes them so good. It’s knowing the trick to making a flaky pastry that melts in your mouth. I also love that my pies have real fruit in them that I prepared myself. And actually very little sugar.

What is the best thing about being a pie maker?

The best thing about being a pie maker is just knowing how to make pies!!! It’s such a rare thing to be able to do nowadays. So few people bake anymore, so I like that my craft is a little bit unique. It also connects me to my roots, being that it’s my grandmother’s recipe, and it’s kind of an “old world” thing to do.

What is the worst thing about being a pie maker?

Probably the endless chopping of all the fruit!!

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I want to thank Trisha for taking the time to answer all of my questions about her delicious pies!  But mostly, I would like to thank her for creating a pie that is drool inducing!  The pumpkin pie was everything that I imagined it was going to be . . . fresh, homemade, and best yet . . . baked by ME!  What an empowering idea.   Thanks Trisha!

What is YOUR favourite kind of pie?