Ask Carolyn
Cake or pie? Most people seem to prefer one or the other, but that doesn’t matter today – it’s National Pie Day!
One of the world’s first recorded recipes was a meat pie made in Sumer over four thousand years ago. Sweet pies were made in Egypt as well, and can be seen depicted on the walls of Rameses II’s tomb. These pies weren’t much like the pies we know today, though. They were flat, round cakes, with a crust made of ground grains. Because there was no sugar in the fertile crescent, the pies were sweetened with honey and dates instead.
It was the Ancient Greeks who developed what we know as the pie pastry. Their knowledge then spread to the Romans, who served small pies with birds and eggs in them at banquets. As the Romans began to trade and spread, they took their pies with them, solidifying their place as a staple pastry.
In honor of National Pie Day, I’ve gathered together some great pie recipes (recipies, you might say) for you to try out.
Bourbon Pecan Pie Recipe
It may not be in season, but this pie is delicious regardless. The pecans are browned in butter and spiced with a mixture of orange peel, cayenne, cumin, and cinnamon. The bourbon lends the crust some extra flavor, while the alcohol evaporates to leave it crisp and tasty.
Super Apple Pie Recipe
This take on the American classic uses a mix of Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Braeburn, and Honeycrisp apples. The recipe uses grains of paradise, which you can order online here, or you can substitute black pepper mixed with a bit of cardamom and ginger.
Pear Gruyere Pie Recipe
The pears in this pie are poached in wine and spiced with nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. The gruyere masterfully complements the pears, adding a savory touch to what would otherwise be a very sweet pie. If that doesn’t get your mouth watering, I can’t help you.
If you’re not much for cooking, don’t worry – instead of baking the pies, you can always just throw them. Fill some pie tins with whipped cream and stage a pie fight with the kids in your backyard. Just don’t wear anything too nice.
Have a great pie recipe to share? Let me know in the comments, or tweet it to me at @Ask_Carolyn!
by Venn Crawford