I had been walking by a local pie shop the other day, and saw in the case an amazing meringue pie.  I could see a tray of pies with tan curled peaks, baked to the color of suede. The thought of meringue pies takes me back to a little cafe in Eureka, Kansas and granddad.  It takes me back to the summer I got to spend with grandma and him.  He would stop in the cafe for breakfast and a piece of pie.  I remember the way the outer skin of meringue would peel off of the soft white center. I guess something way back in my memory made me think of this.

Upper Crust Kansas City (Overland Park)The Upper Crust makes hand made pies and cookies for catering, call in orders, or store front pick-up. The meringue was perfect on the Chocolate Meringue pie!

[ I Love Pie - custom fork]

I asked if I could take some photographs while I was in the store.  I could smell the buttery, nutty smell of baking crust filling the air from the ovens. I was told to have fun and shoot away.  The rainy day outside melted away from memory. I could remember my Grandfather dipping ice out of his ice-water, to cool his coffee. I could remember the way the meringue would separate from the filling underneath.

Upper Crust Kansas City (Overland Park)The Upper Crust makes hand made pies and cookies for catering, call in orders, or store front pick-up. The meringue was perfect on the Chocolate Meringue pie!

[Gooseberry - hot pies out of the oven]

I worked some of the natural light coming in through the front window of the shop.  I took a couple of flash photos with a shoot-through umbrella. I then noticed they were filling the pie case with fresh pies.  The smell of the berries bubbling up mixed with the tart tartness of cherries. What a great shop to spend a little time.

I finished my pie, and then bought some cookies.  I left the cookies there, and asked that they give them away. I thought spreading a smile with a cookie was worth the cost. 

Upper Crust Kansas City (Overland Park)The Upper Crust makes hand made pies and cookies for catering, call in orders, or store front pick-up. The meringue was perfect on the Chocolate Meringue pie! [Empty Plate - Chocolate Meringue]

As you can see, it was hard to finish the chocolate meringue. I hope the memories that I had come back to mind, were met with smiles from the cookies I left behind.