Don't we love pie! Perfect in so many ways. But there is one thing wrong with pie--there are only 8 reasonable servings. So, you end up needing more than one pie, right?

Well, here's where the Slab Pie enters the picture. Slab pies are essentially enormous, rectangular pies baked right in an 18 by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet. Sliced into squares, a slab pie can serve up to 24 people! Now we're in business!

And making this beauty is essentially easy. Just make enough of your favorite pie crust recipe to cover your rimmed baking sheet when rolled out (18 by 13-inch is your go-to for a large crowd). You may want to double your recipe just to be sure you have enough dough.

Pour enough of your favorite pie filling to generously cover the crust, and sprinkle with your favorite crumble topping. Chefs at America's Test Kitchen recommend baking it for about 50 minutes to an hour (depending on your oven) at 375 degrees F.

As long as I've mentioned pie dough, let's keep the theme going. But we'll go from sweet to savory. Have you ever made crackers from your leftover pie dough scraps?

Cluster your scraps together and roll out the dough. Cut into tiny circles, squares, or goldfish. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, or coarsely ground pepper, or poppy seeds, or Everything Bagel seasoning. Freeze for at least 15 minutes, until firm; this will reduce excess puffing and encourage the shape to hold its own.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for about 13 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely before serving with any soft cheese or creamy dip. This is an ingenious and very delicious way to use those scraps!

Along the same line is the Mushroom Puff. Preheat your oven and roll out your pie dough scraps into one sheet. Cut circles slightly larger than the cups of a muffin pan. Gently nestle the circles into the cups.

Then add a heaping teaspoon of roughly chopped mushrooms of choice to each dough shell. Pinch shut, like a tiny purse. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 375 degrees F, until the crust begins to brown and the puffs have opened slightly. Serve warm.

The above ideas are versatile, so they will do well with your creative touch. And I bet you'll come up with other uses for your pie dough--whether it's a sweet Slab Pie or Savory crackers or mushroom cups--with a little thought, pie scraps are gonna take on a whole new personality!