The best part of Thanksgiving is always the pie. This is a non-negotiable fact, handed down from generation to generation. Everyone has that one pie that they believe is the best, be it apple, cherry, or even *eye roll* pumpkin. However, I am here to tell you that there is one pie to rise above all others, one pie that surpasses each and every one of the lucky consumer’s expectations, a pie that embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving, a pie that truly gives me, and so many others, something to be thankful for. The best pie, as determined by the power vested in me as the person they let write this article, is pecan pie.
I have received many reactions to this claim, ranging from anger, to resentment, to denial, to finally, acceptance. People get defensive when you make them question something they believe so completely to be true. This is to be expected, as not everyone has heard the good words of “hey guys, the pecan pie is ready” or, “you should come eat some of this pecan pie.” But once the good word has been heard, once the first bite has passed their lips, they find that it was true all along, that pecan pie really is the best kind of pie. It is not every day that you see a person achieve true happiness as a result of something as small as a bite of pie, but witnessing such a phenomenon is truly humbling while experiencing it is simply life-changing. Mark, my words, taste a pecan pie just one time, and you’ll never go back to whatever inferior pie you chose to defend.
It is the perfect blend of sugary and salty, sweet and savory, crunchy and smooth. The filling is rich but not overpowering, the crust a supportive character, but essential to the final production. Every detail shines individually and as part of the team, making pecan not only the best pie, but a stunning metaphor for businesses to describe the type of people they’d like to hire as part of a development team. And of course, the pecans themselves, the stars of our show, whether they are halved, whole, or crushed into a fine powder, bring the whole thing together, a glorious symphony of fall flavors without actually putting a vegetable in a dessert item.
There are only two types of people who can turn down a delicious slice of this pie to end all other pies: those with moderate to severe tree nut allergies (you guys get a pass) and those who have yet to find themselves in the sweet corn syrup and butter filling of a perfectly baked pecan pie. This is not to say that other types of pie are bad, only that they are subpar to the crunchy, flaky deliciousness that only pecan pie can achieve in full.
This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to find yourself. Make a pecan pie. Don’t just buy one. Go, find a recipe. Ask for one from a family member, scour cookbooks and baking websites until you find The One. Buy that bag of pecans, cut them to your tastes, and change your world one ingredient at a time.