Every Thanksgiving, my Dad’s family gathers for a blowout Thanksgiving bash. With almost twenty people to feed and a turkey to cook, oven time is strictly planned and carefully rationed. While some people make a tradition out of baking pies, our family has made a tradition out of buying them.

Last year we had an unfortunate incident when our “fresh-baked” pumpkin pie from a grocery chain I’ll leave unnamed showed signs of mold just a day after purchasing it!

This year we aren’t taking any chances. After work next Wednesday, I will swing by my favorite Design District diners before heading to Austin to pick up pies for the Shiffler family Thanksgiving feast!

You can get in on the action, too! Here’s the scoop on ordering your family’s Thanksgiving pies:

The Purple Onion offers three classic thanksgiving favorites: Pumpkin, Pecan and Sweet Potato Pie. All of their pies are $15.95 a piece.

Mama’s Daughters’ Diner offers the same classics plus a handful of others, including Cherry, Apple and Apricot Crumb, German Chocolate, and Sweet Potato Pecan. All MDD’s pies are $13.50, except for the Sweet Potato Pecan and German Chocolate, which are $15.50.

Check out more behind-the-scene pics of Mama’s pie making prowess on the Mama’s Daughters’ Facebook Page.

Both diners require you to order your pies at least a day in advance, which means by Tuesday, November 24 so you can pick them up the day before Thanksgiving!  You can order by giving them a call (see below for digits). Or download the Mama’s Daughter’s Diner Fax Form and fax in your order.