by Sabra Ricci

The holidays are a time of coming together to celebrate family and give thanks for our bounty. It also ignites the chef in all of us. Everyone dons their aprons to bring forth tasty, comforting and exotic feasts for their loved ones. Guests wait in eager anticipation for the mouth-watering morsels, but especially the finale: The holiday Pie. What pie should you serve for your Gemini mother-in-law or your Scorpio sweetheart? It's all in the stars!!!

Aries (March 21 - April 19)
Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Ginger Cookie Crust    Get Recipe
Aries, the pioneers of the Zodiac, are adventurous, energetic and courageous. Rams are also known for their hot, impulsive tempers and their love of spicy foods. Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie with Ginger Cookie Crust is just the right combination of spice and coolness to temper their fiery natures. Make this pie a day or two ahead of time and keep in freezer until about 10 minutes before slicing.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)
Persimmon Pie with Ice Cream and Hot Caramel Sauce    Get Recipe
Taurus' are warmhearted, passionate, loves creature comforts and luxury. The Bulls love food. Sweets top the list. Warm Persimmon Pie with Ice Cream and Hot Caramel Sauce would be perfect for their discerning palates. Be sure to buy the persimmons a week ahead of time so they are nice and ripe for this pie.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Mincemeat Pie    Get Recipe
Geminis are communicative, intuitive and love variety in life. The Twins are curious to try new tastes. The blending of various flavors in Mincemeat Pie will be most appealing to them. This pie uses the mincemeat you find in glass jars this time of year; and is enhanced with additional goodies to turn it into "home-made."  

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)  
Traditional Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream    Get Recipe
Cancers are self-protective, sensitive, loving and nurturing. Crabs love comfort foods. Nothing could be more comforting to them at this time of year than Traditional Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream. This isn't the recipe you find on the back of the can, but is just as easy to make.  

Leo (July 23 - August 22)  
Walnut Date Tart with Hot Buttered Rum Sauce    Get Recipe
Leos are powerful, creative, warmhearted, noble and flamboyant. Lions desire foods that are fit for the gods. Serve them a Walnut Date Tart with Hot Buttered Rum Sauce to cater to their royal side. Tarts can be made in regular pie tins or pie plates, so there's no need to rush out to buy a tart pan if you don't already have it.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Traditional Apple Pie Ala Mode with Cinnamon Drizzle    Get Recipe
Virgo is intelligent, practical, health-conscious and down to earth. Virgins thrive on practical foods. What is more practical than a Traditional Apple Pie Ala Mode with Cinnamon Drizzle

Libra (September 23 - October 22)  
Crème Brule Pie    Get Recipe
Libras are harmonious and gentle with all the social graces and they enjoy the luxuries of life. Light, elegant foods and sugary treats are their favorites. Crème Brule Pie fills the bill on all counts. You can caramelize the sugar on the top of this pie using your broiler if you don't have the traditional torch, as long as you place the pie plate in an "ice water bath".

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)  
Dark Chocolate Cheese Cake with Morello Cherry Demi-Glaze    Get Recipe
Scorpios are sensual, obsessive, mysterious and intense. Scorpion food choices have to live up to these qualities. Nothing would be better than Dark Chocolate Cheese Cake with Morello Cherry Demi-Glaze for their complete satisfaction. Morello cherries can be purchased, packed in syrup in glass jars, at specialty stores and usually at Trader Joes.  

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)  
Blue Cheese Cake with Walnut Shortbread Crust, Pears and Port Glace    Get Recipe
Sagittarians are optimistic, freedom loving, and have an expansive approach to life. Archers are born adventurers, willing to try foods that others would not. Blue Cheese Cake with Walnut Shortbread Crust, Pears and Port Glace will be the right tantalizer for them. This pie sounds much more complicated than it is; just start the day before you want to serve it.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)  
Almond Tart    Get Recipe
Capricorns are self-contained, practical and diplomatic. Goats are dignified and relate to the pomp and circumstance of a courtly life. An Almond Tart and a cup of Earl Grey tea would be the perfect ending to their Head of State dinner. This simple dessert can be served any time of the year, and is especially good with fresh raspberries.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)  
Kona Coffee Cheese Cake with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans    Get Recipe
Aquarius is the sign of the humanitarian, eccentric and non-conformist of the zodiac. Water Bearers have been known to shun food for coffee, often doing this for years. Kona Coffee Cheese Cake with Whipped Cream and Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans will keep the buzz going. The Cheese Cake can be made the day before and topped with the whipped cream and coffee beans right before serving.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)  
Sweet Potato, Cranberry, Praline Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream    Get Recipe
Pisceans are otherworldly and imaginative. The Fish are the poets and dreamers of the wheel. Sweet Potato, Cranberry and Praline Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream will help keep their feet on the ground. This recipe uses canned sweet potatoes and cranberries, so is very easy to make.

Authors Bio
Sabra Ricci is a chef to the celebrities and caterer on the beautiful island of Maui. She is renowned for her healthy, delectable menus. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Sabra worked in Paris for YES Catering Company and as a consultant at Grail Springs Spa in Canada. During the 2003 fashion week in New York City, Sabra was one of four chefs selected to participate in the "Five Star Feast", a "Chef to the Celebrities" cooking extravaganza and live demonstration hosted by Joan Lunden.