Bee on the Brow

09/04/2026

🥧 Week 36 | Nevada — Sunny Silver Pie

Our America 250 pie journey heads to the desert this week, and Nevada has some fun history worth knowing!

Nevada’s official motto is “All For Our Country,” not “Battle Born” as many assume! Battle Born, found on the state flag, actually refers to Nevada’s origin story. The state joined the Union on October 31, 1864, right in the final stretch of the Civil War, making it one of the few states truly born out of that conflict. The name Nevada itself comes from the Spanish word for “snowy,” a nod to the Sierra Nevada mountains nearby. 🗻

Nevada earned its nickname “The Silver State” thanks to the massive role silver played in its early economy, and that history is exactly where we found inspiration for this week’s pie! By the 20th century, Nevada had carved out its own identity in a different way too, with libertarian leaning laws, legal gambling and lenient marriage and divorce laws that turned it into one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

This week we leaned into that Silver State nickname with Sunny Silver Pie, also known as Silver Cream Pie, a nostalgic lemon chiffon pie that truly lives up to its reputation as “light as a cloud.” We used a recipe from peopleplacespies.com, and the mild lemon flavor was perfectly refreshing on a warm afternoon. It also slices like an absolute dream. 🍋

Tag someone who needs a slice of sunshine today! ☀️

09/01/2026

A look back at August! Warm days and happy memories at the B&B this month. Mentone slows down as Summer comes to a close, yet Lookout Mountain’s beauty continues to be on display. We are sad that peach season is over, but tickled that fall flavors will soon be part of breakfast!

08/28/2026

Friday is Pie Day!

08/21/2026

🥧 Week 34 | Kansas — Sunflower Seed Pie 🌻

The sunflower has been Kansas’s official state flower since 1903 and is a fitting symbol for the Sunflower State! It represents the state’s agricultural heritage and resilience, standing tall across the prairies as a reminder of Kansas’s enduring character and natural beauty.

Kansas earned statehood in 1861 after years of violence over slavery so brutal it became known as “Bleeding Kansas.” Once the Civil War hit, Kansas doubled down, sending more men to fight per capita than any other state in the Union. A small state that carried a very big role in shaping the nation. 🇺🇸

This week’s pie leans right into that symbolism. Recipe from Lauren Schmidt | Family-Friendly Recipes , and the salted sunflower seeds truly stand out against the brown sugar and syrups. Delicious with a bit of whipped cream on top! 🌻

08/14/2026

🥧 Week 33 | Oregon — Marionberry Pie

Our America 250 pie journey heads to the Pacific Northwest this week!

Long before it became the 33rd state, Oregon was the promised land at the end of the Oregon Trail, drawing thousands of settlers westward in search of fertile farmland and a fresh start. Statehood was just the beginning. When railroads arrived in the 1880s, Oregon’s wheat and lumber suddenly had a direct line to the Eastern U.S., sparking rapid growth in cities across the state. 🇺🇸

And of course, we cannot talk about Oregon without talking about the Marionberry, officially designated the state pie in 2017! A cross between Chehalem and Olallie blackberries, the Marionberry has earned the nickname “Cabernet of Blackberries” for its rich, complex flavor, and it thrives in the PNW’s perfect climate.

Developed in the 1950s alongside Oregon State University, this berry has become a symbol of the state’s agricultural heritage and innovation. Oregon now grows an incredible 90% of the world’s Marionberries.

The deep purple filling makes for one seriously satisfying slice. We leaned into this recipe from Food Blogger · Des Kazda - skipping the lattice crust so we could feature Oregon proudly on top instead, and used our frozen berries from Northwest Wild Foods with total confidence. Yum!

Tag someone who needs a slice of Pacific Northwest goodness today 😋

08/07/2026

🥧 Week 32 | Minnesota — Rhubarb Cream Pie

Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858, just three years before the Civil War, and it wasted no time proving its loyalty to the Union, becoming the very first state to offer troops when the war broke out.

Long before that, French fur traders and explorers moved through the region, and the state’s name itself comes from the Dakota word “mni sota,” meaning “sky tinted water,” a nod to the countless lakes that define it today. 🇺🇸

This recipe from Food52 for Rhubarb Cream Pie was straightforward and tasty! The tart rhubarb paired beautifully with the cream filling, and a slice of this pie pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee. ☕️

We are currently very excitable about rhubarb! The B&B is featuring it this summer alongside strawberries and raspberries at the breakfast table. It’s such an underappreciated vegetable, and maybe just not something we see as often here in the South. Don’t worry though, rhubarb will be back later on our pie journey!

We have a few pies worth put back in the freezer and cannot wait to share 🥧

07/31/2026

🥧 Week 31 | California — Meyer Lemon Pie 🍋

Our America 250 pie journey heads west this week! California became the 31st state in 1850, and the road to get there was fast and dramatic. Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, and within a single year the population exploded from around a thousand people to nearly 100,000.

That gold rush pushed California into statehood so quickly it actually became part of the larger Compromise of 1850, entering the Union as a free state to help keep the balance in Congress.

From the Golden Gate Bridge to the bright lights of Hollywood, from the opportunity of the gold rush to its endless coastlines and fertile fields, California has always embodied a certain kind of American possibility. Bigger, bolder and always chasing the next big thing! 🇺🇸

This week, proper ingredients did not exist nearby, so a FedEx driver delivered our lemons straight to the door, because sometimes that is just how baking goes. Meyer lemons are a cross between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange, slightly sweeter with an edible peel and pith, both of which went entirely into the filling for maximum flavor. 🙂‍↕️

Rachel made FIVE of these pies this week! Graham cracker or a regular crust both delicious… topped with fresh whipped cream. If you’d like her recipe, comment below ☀️

07/26/2026

https://www.al.com/life/2026/07/alabama-mountain-getaway-praised-as-one-of-best-outdoorsy-towns-in-country.html
Always makes us smile when Mentone is in the news!

Natural beauty and scenic adventures await visitors to this gorgeous spot on Lookout Mountain.

07/24/2026

🥧 Week 30 | Wisconsin — Cherry Cranberry Pie 🍒

Our celebration of America keeps rolling, and this week the Badger State is taking center stage!

Cherry pie may not hold official status in Wisconsin, but it might as well. Door County is famously known as the Cherry Capital of the World, and cherry pie has been a beloved Wisconsin tradition for generations.

Interestingly, the cranberry actually holds the official title of state fruit, a distinction earned in 2003 thanks to a class project by a group of Wisconsin fifth graders. So this week, we decided why choose one when you can have both!

We used that bit of Wisconsin trivia as inspiration and combined cherries with cranberries for the perfect tart punch in this delicious pie.

This recipe comes from Heather Smoke | Curly Girl Kitchen, and Cherry Cranberry Pie is basically Christmas in July. Rachel has this one in her top ten pies she has ever baked, so consider this your sign to write it down and add it to your fall baking lineup. 🍂

07/17/2026

🥧 Week 29 | Iowa — Sour Cream Raisin Pie

Here’s a fun one! Iowa could only become the 29th state in 1846 because Congress needed a free state and slave state admitted together to keep things balanced, so Iowa and Florida joined hands and entered the Union side by side. A political compromise that quietly shaped the map of America. 🇺🇸

We took an afternoon and streamed The Music Man to reflect on some Iowan nostalgia and get in the mood to celebrate a state known for its self reliance and practicality. This pie speaks to that same sense of community and Midwestern values of humility, hard work and sincerity.

This recipe from emmascakestudio.com seems to be a favorite of the Hawkeye State, made from pantry staples and definitely one of a kind!