For over 30 years, Carlyle's Dennis Feduk has paid it forward with pies.
Although Feduk works full-time, he has created and donated thousands of his homemade pies, tarts, cookies, Nanaimo bars and perogies to individuals and organizations.
“When I meet people, and I think they need something, I just make it for them,” says Feduk. “I couldn't give an amount or a dollar figure, but this year, I've easily made 100 pies since the middle of July.”
“And the year after my wife Judy died (in 2013), I made 170 pies, 2,500 butter tarts, and 5,000 perogies.”
Feduk says that his calling for cooking-and later baking-began with Judy.
“I grew up on a farm near Melville,” he says. “And the thing I learned from my mom was how to make a pattern on a pie crust-almost like a floral design. Then, I worked on the railroad when I was 19. I was living in a bunk car. I cooked my meals on a wood stove. We didn't have any electricity, so I brought stuff from the farm that wouldn't spoil easily: vegetables, bread, butter, roast pork.”
“After I got together with Judy, I inherited a lot of the cooking after I gave her some friendly advice,” he laughs. “I thought I was helping, but she didn't want it.”
“I started cooking and the baking came a little later.”
Since then, Feduk has delighted celebrities and civilians alike with his culinary creations, with many of them garnering top dollar at charity auctions.
“When I saw (country singer) Carlene Carter in Regina in 2009, she signed a book for me. I asked her if I could do something for her in return and she asked “What would that be?'”
“I had an apple pie, some Nanaimo bars and a dozen butter tarts in my car. I went out and gave them to her and she shared them with her band and crew.”
“I met Fred Perry-a Roughriders player-and his family in Yorkton. I gave them an apple pie and some perogies. He and his wife, Tammy Montgomery were pretty pleased.”
“Larry Hogue-who's an ex-Roughrider-asked for my perogy recipe,” adds Feduk.
“When (Olympic cyclist) Clara Hughes came to Carlyle, I dropped off three apple pies-Clara's favorite-at the Ramada. When I went to pick up the empty plates, I got an envelope with a note signed by all of the eight people on Clara's tour and a signed picture of Clara with a note that I had framed and now hangs in my house.”
However impressive, Feduk's celebrity encounters pale in comparison to the sheer volume of baking he gives to individuals and charities, year after year.
“I don't really keep track,” says Feduk. “If I can make someone smile, that's great. And with auction items, whatever they decide to pay is fine with me and if it helps someone, that's even better.”
“But I can tell you that about a month ago, I was asked to put in pies for an auction in Estevan called 'Cooks That Cook.'”
“I put in a Saskatoon and a pecan pie together. They got $150 for them. Then the Saskatoon pie was donated back a few times until it finally went for $1,175. It might be the highest price someone has ever paid for one of my pies and it got thrown in a guy's face,” he says, laughing.
Locally, Feduk's 'Pie of the Month' fetched $750 at 2014's Carlyle & District Lions Club's annual fundraiser.
The buyer, Tara Bendtsen of Carlyle, was so pleased with her purchase, she wrote this letter with instructions for it to be read just prior to the bidding on Feduk's donation at the 2015 event:
Dearest bidders,
We were fortunate to outbid a few people last year for this great prize, however what you need
to know about this item is that it's priceless, don't try and figure the price out, because you can't.
What Dennis delivers to your door, most often still warm from the oven and smelling like
heaven isn't just the pie that might make your pants a little tighter. It's a friendship baked into the golden delicious crust, or a cookie or a Nanaimo bar or his homemade perogies!! He's a man of many talents and that's why this prize is worth every penny!
He always has a smile, a kind word, a story from his travels either near or far, or an ear to bend
if that's what you need. My family and I have enjoyed getting to know Dennis better over this
past year, whether it was at the rink, the ball park, out for a walk or with a tea at the house, and
we look forward to many more.
We won't be bidding on it this year because we think that everyone should get this chance to
know Dennis.
Thank you, Dennis (The PIE Guy)
Sincerely,
The Bendtsen family
During the past three years, lucky trick-or-treaters visiting Feduk's home might find themselves taking home a tart or a cookie. Feduk cooks and bakes throughout the year, and often has some treats in reserve in his freezer, although he says: “I think I'm caught up for a while, and then before I know it, I'm running low again.”
“I make a lot of perogies from the middle of December through to March,” he says. “I make potato and cheese with onion and bacon and onion,” he says. “I bake in the summer, too.”
When asked what his favourite type of pie to bake is, Feduk says: “It really depends on what time of year it is and what's in season. I think my best pie is coconut cream, and pecan is the easiest to make.”
“But if apples or Saskatoons are in season, well those are good, too.”
Although Feduk is Carlyle and area's “go-to guy” for a charitable donation, supplying dessert to a function, or both, he refuses to sell his creations.
“I donate to the United Church and I gave 14 pies to Minor Sports to sell in the cafeteria at Homespun. I bought some pieces to give to vendors at Homespun, and I was asked why I bought my own stuff. But it made me happy to donate and it made me happy to bring something to the vendors visiting Carlyle.”
“They said they didn't expect something like that. I also gave a group of people from Ottawa an apple pie. They were camping in Lions' Park. It's just something I do.”
“When Judy had her store, I'd make 240 tarts and we'd take them to Winnipeg on buying trips and give one to each supplier.”
“I've had people ask me if they can buy baking from me,” says Feduk. “But if I start selling it, it becomes a job. This way, it's a hobby. I'd really rather not sell it.”
Feduk is equally generous with his recipes, his expertise, and his time.
“A lot of the recipes I use are from a cook book, and my chocolate chip cookie recipe is the one on the back of the Baker's Chocolate Chip bag. I might change something to taste, but for the most part, I measure.”
“When I was learning, I would ask people questions, so why wouldn't I do that for someone else?”
“I've had some people come to my house to learn how to make perogies and three girls from our office came over to learn how to make pies.”
Recently, Feduk visited Moose Mountain Lodge residents for a pie-making demonstration, where he delighted residents with his extra-large mixing bowl. “I got it from the man's toy store: Princess Auto,” says Feduk of the silver hubcap he uses as a bowl. “And it lets me make enough dough for four covered pies.”
Feduk is currently experimenting with some gluten-free goodies “for the daughter of a guy I work with,” and says, “It's a challenge and you have to be very careful about cross-contamination in the kitchen. And gluten-free isn't as good as regular baking. But for someone who can't have it at all, it's good.”
With some baking commitments already stretching into the summer, Feduk says, “Why do I do this? I bake because I like to see the expression on people's faces when I give them stuff.”
“It's not the baking so much; it's the giving.”
