5am state of affairs

Nina is hard at work making more crust. Do you have any idea how much it takes to make all these crusts? Pie crusts are temperamental - if it's too warm, they don't work. If it's too cold, they don't work. Blind baking the pecan and chocolate pecan pie crusts is risky business: they can shrink too much or crack despite Ms. Pieathon's clever solutions (involving a second pie tin as a weight), but without the blind bake the crusts come out doughy. And if there is one thing we can't stand around here, it's a doughy crust!

Spirits are remarkably high. We're at that point in the thon where everything is peaceful and efficient. The pecans, cranberry walnuts, and sugar creams are all done and getting wrapped and boxed for delivery. Nina is starting another mammoth batch of pecan pie filling, this time for the chocolate pecan pies; the first step is cracking a dozen eggs. As someone who doesn't really cook much, the scale of this is awe-inspiring. Everything is weighed on a scale for precision. This is what it takes to cook 68 pies in 24 hours.

We leave you with this video tour of Pieathon central:

what happens at 2:05am?

Lucia Leandro here.  It's 2:05 am and the coffee is brewing.  Nina is cracking yet another egg into a bowl.  I arrived around midnight ready to support.  To my surprise i walked into a room filled with people eating some snacks, boxing pies and in the groove of things.  It made me think about my first time helping Nina.  Flour was everywhere and I was starting to get loopy.  This year I'm ready (and so was she).  As I handed Nina something to drink I couldn't help but feel grateful and lucky to know her.

In June of 2009 I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.  It shook my whole world.  Two things made my healing recovery possible.  Nina and CancerCare.  She helped create a support team for my recovery.  She got me info. on CancerCare and as easy as 1-2-3 I was given support.  So, as my eyelids get heavier I remind myself why I am up this early.  To lighten Nina's load a little the way she did for me when I was sick and needed lookin' after and to support CancerCare.  There is no better place to be at than 2am at Pieathon Headquarters.

The Thirteenth Hour

Friends,

Pie miracles are happening here in Brooklyn. Nina has completed the cranberry walnut pies, the sugar cream pies, and nearly all of the pecan pies. Next up, the two big challenges: pumpkin, requiring a custard, and chocolate pecan, combining all the complexities of a pecan pie with an extra layer of chocolate gilding.

The ustream continues to be an unexpected source of amazement - we've had friends check in from near and far. If you want to check in, you should: we'll be here all night at http://ustre.am/q4Xh.

Will the custard crack? Will the pecans set? And how about all those blind-baked crusts? Tune in for EVER MORE PIE ADVENTURES here at Pieathon central!

Entering the Tenth Hour

Pie-loving people,

We are now entering the 10th hour of flaky-crust goodness as our faithful baking superwoman, Nina Callaway, goes into the championship round.  I'm your Girl Friday, Marite Hart, here on the scene and reporting live.  The flour is elbow deep and the drama is just starting to rise (baking metaphor completely intended!).  We are making a ^%$(&^$%load of pie and there is no stopping Ms. Callaway!

Now, back to you Chuck in the studio!

Pieathon live streaming!!

Hey folks,

 Support team member #1 here, writing to let you all know that Pieathon is quite web savvy this year and will be doing intermittent (potentially ongoing, tbd by Ms. Pieathon herself) live web streaming broadcasts during the event!

 In fact, we are going to start another one in just a couple of minutes! So get those browser windows ready and direct your search engine to  http://ustre.am/q4Xh

 And don't forget to check back at our U-stream page (showpage: pieathon) for older videos from throughout the process, and keep it locked on this here blog while you're at it :)

Onward, with pies!!