Everybody has a weakness (or two), one of mine is pie. I absolutely love all kinds of pie. Envisioning that warm flaky buttery golden-brown crust filled with thick-fruity goodness sliding off the server onto a plate with my name on it sends shivers down my spine.
Over the years I have made and eaten my share of pie. I guess my all-time favorite would be pumpkin. When I was younger I’d think nothing of tackling a fairly large orange specimen after singing it a few songs and giving it a few affectionate pats of farewell; believe me, it makes the from-scratch pies even better.
Now I’m afraid Marie Callender is my pie maker. Sitting with my morning coffee while looking out the sliding glass doors this morning I was filled with memories. When, not visions of sugarplums, but an old cookbook came waltzing into mind. “Where is that book?”
When up from my chair I arose and ran, well waddled is more like it, to my closet. And what did I find, but a stack of plastic storage containers a mile high! I threw open the lids and raised such a clatter that I thought for a minute my neighbor might come knocking wondering what was the matter.
With eyes darting swiftly through smudged bifocals, a Senior's sin, I viewed the clear cases for what looked like books therein. Ah ha! Just as I thought in the very bottom case I spied the small stack of books I’ve kept throughout my travels.
What puffing and grunting did sing through the air as I tugged and pulled at the stack of books I found there. One by one I lifted them out until, “at last!” I did shout.
Back to my chair, now settled, now pleased, I opened the cover with ease. The Pies and Pastries Cookbook, favorite recipes of Home Economics Teachers, began to draw me in. I noted its publishing date of 1984. This spiral bound treasure of mine is 27 years old. I am not certain where or when I acquired it, but I did and over the years while thinning out my books have managed to hold to it.
Now to get down to business. Pastries, strudels, pies, éclairs, creampuffs, dumplings, tartlets, turnovers, and PIE! Oh my! Pies like you have never known existed. Like, Apple marmalade, pineapple red-hot, apricot, avocado (?), why not? Banana done in all ways, chiffon, blackberry, black bottom, blueberry to cherry! Buttermilk, cantaloupe-orange, cheese, mincemeat, black forest, supreme and chocolate Bourbon pecan pie.
Coconut, oatmeal, coffee, cranberry Bavarian, French current walnut, Fig, grape pie, grapefruit pie, Jeff Davis pies, maple, peach, peanut butter, pear, …. I am rolling with glee in my chair!
Pistachio, plum, prune with rum, pumpkin, raisin, raspberry, rhubarb, shoofly pie, strawberry, sweet potato, tangerine, tutti-frutti, walnut, watermelon and silky clouds of fluffy cream piled wide and sky-high!
I have to keep reminding myself to breathe as I turn the pages, especially with pictures. If I could, I’d climb through the veil of pretend with my fork in hand and taste and wallow in every pie plate leaving a trail of pie crust crumbs, berry stains and smears of chocolate everywhere.
Did I mention… I love pie!
2 comments:
Yummm... I here ya! Gimmie some pie anytime.
Your delightful pie article made my mouth water. Really!! My love of pie matches yours quite well. In fact, I have often said throughout my adult life that I much prefer "birthday pie" to birthday cake, and many people have agreed. I never met a pie that I didn't like, except for gooseberry, which was my Irish grandfather's very favorite. He also loved raisin pie. I love fresh strawberry, old-fashioned butterscotch, pumpkin, peach, and just about anything else that exists in the world of homemade pies. Thank you for your great commentary about pies.
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