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Jed Boal ReportingNo matter what you're cooking up in your kitchen tonight, we're pretty sure it does not include pie for a half-million people. That's what Marie Callender's is up to right now.
Many people slave in the kitchen for days getting ready for Thanksgiving. Others start their own traditions that involve much less time cooking. It's the biggest day of the year at Marie Callender Pie Shops.
Jim Pettingill, General Manager: "We look forward to this and get ready for this all year round."
It takes a lot of planning and coordination to bake and sell eight thousand pies, or 50-thousand pies from the six Utah locations. Slice those pies into 10 pieces and you have enough for a half million people.
Pecan, apple, lemon, chocolate, razzleberry, rhubarb, and of course pumpkin.
Jim Pettingill, General Manager: "The most popular is pumpkin. We do about 15-hundred to two-thousand out of this store alone, which is pretty busy."
The ovens have been on around the clock since Saturday with 120 pies at a time. Many customers order pies every Thanksgiving.
Sue Reuling, Customer: "They're great pies and I wouldn't dream of baking any better."
Some like to leave at least part of the meal to someone else.
Ruth Rowsell, Customer: "We've bought Marie Callender's pies for years, and there's just none better."
Jim Pettingill, General Manager: "They look forward to it. They say, 'same as last year.' it's something to look forward to for all of us."
Several dozen employees will work the holiday.
Jim Pettingill, General Manager: "Enjoyable time, especially with my family. They're all here helping me."
But, be extremely cautious with that precious cargo because spilling it would be a disaster.
The kitchen also cooks up 100 complete turkey feasts and will serve dinner at the restaurant.
