Do you hear that noise?

It's the sound of me getting fatter.

I've made a very dangerous discovery: I actually like the pies from the HEB bakery. I mean, I really like them. You know, the ones that call your name every time you're innocently trying to walk past them to get to the produce? Well, they've recently claimed another victim.

I grew up with a mother that puts Marie Callendar's pies to shame. I never liked store-bought "imposter" pies, and I even turned my nose up at most other homemade pies, since people rarely make their crusts from scratch these days. I should've left well-enough alone; it would've been better for my figure.

Now, I've found that Mr. Butt makes a mean Lemon Meringue, as well as an addictive Chocolate Meringue. I'll console myself with the fact that these are two types of pies that neither my mother nor I would try to make at home...meringue is not worth the hassle, and it's hard to get it right. So I suppose I can justify needing to buy these from an outside source, right?

For the time being, I'll still be turning up my nose at their apple, cherry, peach, pumpkin....