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Market Basket: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Pretty Paper plates

We were in search of pie for dessert for a big family dinner in Stone Harbor last week. And as it was still pre-Fourth of July, many of the shops were open only on weekends. Someone directed us to a bakery called the Painted Pie, and we found it, with the door ajar, but clearly not open for business. A baker emerged from the back, his bicycle in the middle of the shop. Could he recommend any place we could buy a pie for dessert? "None will be as good as mine," was his reply. "Well could you bake one by 6 o'clock?" He was game, suggesting strawberry apple. But my father figured why not go for all the marbles "Can you make a strawberry rhubarb?" he asked. "That's one of my favorites," was the baker's reply. It was so good, we ordered an apple pie the next night, and banana cream pie the next, each one better than the last.

Strawberry rhubarb pie, $30, the Painted Pie, 261 96th Street Stone Harbor, 609-796-5468.

Pretty paper plates

I always prefer to use china rather than paper goods when entertaining, but one of my sisters talked sense into me when hosting a brunch for 20 recently, and she was right — especially with the lovely options available in paper products these days. One of the guests even thought these were actual plates until she picked one up. And, I must say, cleanup was a breeze.

Caspari paper plates, 8 buffet plates, $6, 8 dessert or salad, $4.50; 20 napkins, $7.