Click for bourbon pecan pie recipe.

Last year, I very briefly mentioned an event that has become a regular thing in my life.  It’s called a Pie-n-Tea Party.  And the name has a pretty decent story behind it.

I was filling my friend Tim’s poor eye holes with long text messages bemoaning my pathetic state during fertility treatments. (I believe I specifically said that waiting in the reproductive endocrinologist’s office at 7 AM smelled like freshly applied deodorant and desperation.)  I told him that I was going to throw myself a pity party that night with lots of junk food.  And he turned the thought of a pity party over in his mind a few times, playing with the words.

The message that came back was something along the lines of, “Rather than a pity party, you should throw a Pie-n-Tea Party.  Invite all your girlfriends, and you can all eat junk food and kvetch together.”

I thought his idea had merit.  So I created an event on Facebook and invited all my lovelies to it.  Who knew we all needed a set event to sit down, drink some wine, eat some pie and have a big ol’ bitch session?  Tim did apparently.  He’s a wise man.

Click for pumpkin pie recipe.

So we set a date for another Pie-n-Tea.  And another.  And this Friday will be our third ever Pie-n-Tea party.  I think we have all the kinks worked out.  There’s going to be at least three freshly baked pies available.  And wine, of course!

We’ve decided to hold them quarterly.  My lovelies are all so busy we couldn’t possibly work them in monthly.  Which is fine because I’ve also decided to throw my husband out of the house for these events.  And it’s difficult to throw him out monthly.  But quarterly he’ll begrudgingly do.

This quarter I’m making pumpkin, strawberry and peach pies.  Unfortunately only the pumpkin is available fresh in February.  Well that’s not true, strawberries are available but they taste like nothing because they’ve been grown in a hothouse.  If you’re interested in roasting you own pumpkin to make pumpkin puree for pie filling, click here.

So I’ll be working with frozen fruit for the strawberry and peach pies.  But that’s fine because frozen fruit is picked and processed when it is at the peak of ripeness.  The only thing you lose when using frozen fruit is firmness.  And honestly, pie filling isn’t something you want to be particularly firm.

I’ll have to report back on adapting those recipes with frozen fruit.

In the mean time, I’ve decided that since Pie-n-Tea Parties look to be something that will be sticking around for a while, I’m thinking about going Pinterest on it with help from The Graphics Fairy.   Check out these adorable, vintage tea pot graphics from 1850s catalogs!

I am thinking about printing them on card stock and turning them into a garland.  I know, it’s a bit hokey.  But I don’t care.  I want a lovely party space for my lovelies!  I never thought I’d be the type of woman who started crafting when she was in her 30s.  But apparently I am.

And just look at those graphics!  They are begging to be used in some way.  It’s a tea party people.  What, you want me to just ignore them?   No can do.

Anyway, if you’re a TTC-er, a Pie-n-Tea Party might just be the thing for you.  Or come up with your own quirky party theme.  If you do, leave a comment.  I want to hear what the cool kids are doing these days.