Blue-Ribbon Pies: 75 of the Most Mouthwatering, Award-Winning Recipes from America's State, ....

Carol Sister's oatmeal pie won top prize at the ""bake your own thing'' contest at Ionia County Free Fair. The directions: ``Mix all ingredients together. Pour into unbaked pie shell.'' Others, such as the voluptuous Alaskan snow pie, require slightly more attention, but almost all the savory, prize-winning recipes culled from America's amateur regional cooks rely on pantry staples and readily available fresh and convenience foods. Robbins (whose Blue-Ribbon Pickles & Preserves is reviewed above) gathers traditional favorites: blueberry, apple, pecan, banana-cream, pumpkin-cheese. More provocative offerings are autumn glory (orange-flavored crust and silky apricot filling), lemon buttermilk and macadamia nut. Sensible directions are supplemented with piecrust tips, including the effects of certain ingredients on taste and texture, and various rolling and lining techniques. Illustrations not seen by PW. (August 17)