04/21/2026
It started with pie...
Yesterday while making a pie for an admittedly rare pie order, I started thinking about how underappreciated pies are. Our current world is all about appearance. How pretty and flashy something is, and baked goods are no exception. Lets face it, a simple looking pie is not near as eye catching or colorful as a beautifully decorated cookie or a stunning cake. Pies simply aren't as aesthetically appealing to the eye. To be honest, my pies don't always look perfect either. Oozing juices and browned crust are signs of a good pie! Things you don't find with the artificial perfection of store bought pies. The taste however, is a different story! The perfect finale to a warm, cozy family gathering or meal. The perfect breakfast. The perfect comfort food. Pies don't follow fads. They are timeless!
Funny enough, my baking journey started with pies. My Mom made delicious pies my entire childhood. I learned from her and she learned from her Mom, my Grandma. My Grandma was the unmatched queen of pies. Born and raised on a farm in Nebraska, she was the Nebraska 4H queen as a teen. "Queen" is a title she happily carried among family for the rest of her life. At her funeral in 2008, she passed at age 90, a crown was lovingly placed on her casket to remind everyone that the Queen's life was being celebrated. All while showtunes played. She was also an actor with a lovely dramatic flare. My Mom often talks about people unexpectedly stopping in at my Grandparents house just for a taste of my Grandma's pies. She had zero problem whipping one up with zero notice. Her apple pie was always a hit thanks to a special ingredient. An ingredient I use in my apple pies. Can you guess what it is? 😉 In my early 20s I caught the pie bug and started making pies. In 2017 I decided to enter an apple pie in the Oregon State fair. I won 3rd place, and I wanted more! I craved more ribbons! I am no longer allowed to enter the state fair as I am a "professional," but between 2017 and 2024 (2020 and 2021 cancelled for Covid) I won 11 first place ribbon, 3 second place ribbons, 4 third place ribbons, 1 Oregon Award in Decorated Cakes and 1 Judges Choice in Decorated Cake. 20 awards in total, 9 for pies. It all started with that one apple pie in 2017. I am so glad I took a chance and decided to try. It was a vulnerable move for a 33 year old stay at home mom. A move that I feel changed the entire course of my life. As silly as that sounds. It helped me to find my passion, baking. It's what birthed Icing & Crumbs. ❤️
So yes, it all started with pie!
Anna Duff, Owner of Icing & Crumbs
* Icing & Crumbs signature pies include Apple and Raspberry Blackberry. $30 per pie.