I know for many Americans, the thanksgiving meal is all about the turkey. Turkey this and turkey that. For me, it's all about the pies. I'm okay with turkey, don't get me wrong. But the PIES! I think in the "old days" people used to make more pies, and people were happier. Now, we just get homemade pies on special days like Thanksgiving. And this year, several of my cousins brought delicious pies!

And now, an un-biased, non-subjective countdown of the best pies. This is not opinion, just fact, based on my pie-lovin' expertise:

5. Pumpkin. It's okay. I'll take a little slice, if it's got a big spray of whipped cream on it.

4. Rhubarb. I haven't had a good homemade rhubarb pie in years. It used to grow like weeds in our back yard, and my mom would make pies out of the stuff.

3. Pecan. Crispy, salty, sweet. It's a real treat to get a good one! I don't know who made the one at Thanksgiving, but it was good!

2. Cherry. Okay, the key here is that it has to have lots of actual cherries. The store bought cherry "pies" are 90 percent pie-goo and only 10 percent cherry.

1. I'm going with good old-fashioned, all-american, feel-good, salute the flag, hug your mamma apple pie! Every apple pie is different, it's own taste, it's own texture. Sweet or tangy apples, crisp or mushy. Somebody give me an apple pie right now!