My husband & I have just been asked to be special guests in an "Annual Family Bake Off!" This year the theme in PIES!

Interesting question. One hand, you might want to stay traditional English style, but then you might want to branch out into something 'exotic' for your region.

Caribbean meat pies, Jamaican meat pies are excellent.
Or something from the Americas like a Mexican meat pie. (using lamb instead of ground beef). http://www.recipe.com/baked-mexican-pie/
That link is just a quick example, I don't like it from the list of ingredients. (canned cream of onion soup--Nooooo).

A Pecan pie from the American South would be nice if you can get pecans.

Cook Illustrated has a wonderful Deep Dish Chicago Pizza recipe that involved 'laminated the dough' folding rolling folding rolling...to make the pie.

You can't go wrong with a classic French upside down carmelized pear tart. Here is a link

http://www.jsonline.com/features/recipes/68937122.html

Hi ivy, here are my ideas, sounds like fun!

http://lapadia.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/butternut-granny-smith%e2%80%a6an-autumn-affair/

http://lapadia.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/blackberry-pie/

http://lapadia.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/pie-crust/

http://lapadia.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/bacon-pot-pie-with-fresh-garden-vegetables/

I would make a Sweet Potato Pie. It's my all-time favorite dessert, and I have a great one on this site. You can search for it in the recipe section. And to make it "pretty," garnish it with jumbo pecan halves all around the perimeter.

The judges say the definition of pie is...a baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base of pastry. – (Oxford Dictionary).........however, some would argue for a shepherd's pie or pizza pie!
Yes, I do probably think seasonal.....I have a yummy chicken pot pie on the savory side and then I've always loved the sour cream apple pie form Silver Palette....

It's getting chilly and its the Queen's weekend... you've got to go classic, no? I'd go for a Quiche Lorraine. For deliciousness and creamy classic it can't be beat. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-classic-quiche-lorraine

Good luck!

Hi Ivy, I am procrastinating going to bed so I will comment but I'm sure you will have more answers tomorrow. Your question is so open it begs more questions. Are there any rules (must have top and bottom crust or what?) Are you all special pie bakers to be selected, so do you have a special you are famous for? So you want a Winter or Fall pie to be seasonal?

p.s. My sister and her (Australian) husband recently moved to Sidney