Yesterday, our church held its annual Pie Auction. It's a fun way to raise money and everyone seems to love the event. We have an auctioneer (Sean) who will comically call out for bids on the pies. They are paraded around the room by an assistant (JC) until we have a winner. Some of these pies have gone for better than a hundred dollars, believe it or not! When all the pies have been auctioned off, helpers take each tasty prize to their respective winning tables. Then it gets nutty. We all take our plates and go around the tables asking to have some of the pie they bought! Crazy and oh, so fun! And the food.... yum-o!
I don't usually sign up to bake anything because it always seems to come at a busy time for me in October. This year was no exception. I usually throw something together- like a quick batch of ice cream- to take, however. This year, inspired by an e-mail my father-in-law received, I decided to make something that the kids of the church might take a fancy to. I'm always thinking of the children- partly because I'm involved in the Children's Ministries at the church. We don't want to leave them out.
I brought in my concoction after the auctioning began because I didn't intend on my "pie" to be sold. It was a gift to the kids! Then it happened. My worst fear... they began to ask bids for my "pie" (with the understanding that it was to stay at the kid's table).
It was gross. There were gasps as it was paraded around the room. Whispers flooded the fellowship hall. I think someone almost fainted. Was it real??? It looked so authentic. Laughter filled the air. Some turned away in horror as it came near... the one... the only... CAT PAN PIE!
I think the credit goes to Kid Cuisine for coming up with the idea or someone else creative from the online world. It is simply 2 cake mixes (white and spice) baked and crumbled up. You add about 1 1/2 cups of vanilla pudding and top with crumbled white cream filled cookies for the "litter" look. The decorative pieces are actually Tootsie Rolls, slightly warmed in the microwave and formed to their new shape. Toss some green food color in with a bit of crumbs for added "decoration". Place in a new kitty pan and that has been lined with an unscented pan bag. Set the pan on some newspaper and serve it up with a NEW kitty scooper!!
