Pie For Russ’ Birthday

It’s Russ’ birthday today. He is not one for big parties or even big gifts. But he does like an apple pie. Given his well researched druthers he would probably like a Harris Teeter apple pie best. Since they are too big to have around due to the weight watching going on around here I made him his own tiny pie. It is a really ugly little pie. Thank goodness Russ does not have the best eye sight.
While I was at it I made five big tomato pies and ten quarts of butternut squash soup. Not for Russ’ birthday, but for my friends who want me to go into the “Dana does dinner” business. See, last week at lunch three friends said they would act as guinea pigs if I were to package the extra food I inevitably cook when I make anything. Then another friend heard about the testing option and she got in on it too.  
Since I was making pie crust for tomatoes pies I just made a little extra for Russ. Poor guy, that is the way it goes. Nothing special for him. Just the stuff that falls off the truck.
After I had finished cooking the “dinners” for my friends I still had leftovers. My neighbor came by to return some borrowed butter and she ended up buying the extra from the test batch.  
I calculated the money I will make from this exercise and the per hour cost after ingredients was not great. Then Russ told me to look at it another way. I would have been cooking no matter what, so in essence I am just selling the leftovers. He thinks it is all profit since it meant he got a tiny pie from the deal.
After my testers have tried this round I will decided if I should do it again. I was craving some red wine vinegar chicken and that makes great leftovers so I may be offering it for sale next week. For today I just have to go finish making food for Russ’ birthday dinner. He is not getting leftovers!