March 14 is Pi Day, when people celebrate the ratio for a circle鈥檚 circumference by slicing into a sweet or savoury pie.

Ken and Debbie Nielsen of Salmon Arm are sort of experts when it comes to pie 鈥� considering the fact they are repeat winners of the R.J. Haney Best of the Shuswap Pie Contest.

This year, their signature ginger-pear pie took the top prize in the contest, winning the judge鈥檚 award and a $4,800 donation for the Haney Heritage Village fundraiser.

鈥淲e have been carrying the recipe around for about 25 years; we entered it in 2016 and won that year and then tried a couple different pies for a few years, but we went back to the ginger-pear this year and we ended up winning. This one is kind of special for us, it鈥檚 always our go-to for the contest and it brings us good luck,鈥� Ken says.

鈥淣ot many people have tried a pear pie, but they usually really love it,鈥� Debbie adds.

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According to the couple, it鈥檚 a combination of pears being a fresh fruit available in the winter and a special touch to the recipe that makes it the perfect pie for a mid-winter treat.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think too many people make pear pies, but it is a fresh fruit available at this time of year and I think it鈥檚 important to use fresh ingredients,鈥� Debbie says.

鈥淚 think the ginger adds a little bit to the pears, but the crust is a big part of it too and that鈥檚 a bit of a secret. I can鈥檛 give that one away,鈥� Ken adds.

While the pair both have their share of culinary expertise, Ken is the chef in the spotlight on most days.

鈥淚 actually have a heck of a recipe book I go through when I am cooking food, I have a lot of good recipes,鈥� he says.

Debbie adds, 鈥淚f we invite people over for dinner, they drop whatever they are doing and head right over because he is a great cook!鈥�

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Besides the prestige of their ginger-pear pie being named the best in the Shuswap, Ken and Debbie both appreciate the chance to support a local organization with their baking.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great, it is good to help the Haney Village. It鈥檚 their big fundraiser so it鈥檚 good to participate and I think they appreciate it,鈥� Ken says. 鈥淲e got a pretty good donation this year, and last year as well we raised over $5,000 with the pie we put in for the auction.鈥�

鈥淲e like that a lot, it鈥檚 always good to help out a local charity,鈥� Debbie adds.

@Jodi_Brak117
jodi.brak@saobserver.net
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