Dive Deep into Pie with Us, Again
In this second iteration of As We Eat’s annual deep dish on pies, their origins, and their impact on food culture, Kim and Leigh dive into an American classic that originated with a fictional character and discover how a bird had a role etymologically in the word pie.
What does the magpie have to do with the name of a yummy baked treat? And what does a fictional character relate to desserts made from Florida citrus?
First, we return to the origins of pie specialties as Leigh surveys the ingenuity of pie bakers and cooks who built empires on fairly basic pie recipes originating in Western Europe. Using the literal fruits of the land, we have created flavorful classics like apple pie, lemon meringue, and huckleberry pie. Even in times of shortages of butter and sugar, ingenuity created make-do recipes resulting in “desperation pie” and even “water pie” to help maintain a sense of normalcy at times life was anything but normal.
Next, Kim speaks on how the thrifty utilization of excess egg white plus a fictional culinary character led to one of the most favorite pies in American history - lemon meringue - and how a massive hurricane shifted Florida’s production of pineapple to its globally-known key lime, inspiration for the key lime meringue pie. This tale isn’t fully told without a peek into the life and kitchen of William Curry, who brought condensed milk to the Florida Keys and whose cook *may* be the originator of the original Key Lime Pie recipe.
Tell us what kind of pie(s) you’ll be making for the holidays? Do you prefer the traditional pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving or do you buck tradition and make something else?
What was your favorite part of this episode?
Comfort Foods Transcript
🎧 Click here for the full, interactive transcript of this episode 🎧 {UPDATE LINK}
Sources We Found Helpful for this Episode
Books We Think You’ll Enjoy Reading
Pie Camp - Kate McDermott
Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, John F. Mariani
The Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Davidson
American Lady’s Cook Book, Mrs. T. J. Crowen
Brave Tart, Iconic American Desserts, Stella Parks
Recipes You Really Need to Try
Pecan Pie – Sally’s Baking Addiction
Water Pie – Parade
Mincemeat Pie – Daring Gourmet
Apple Pie – Art of the Pie
Lemon Meringue – Art of the Pie
Key Lime – Once Upon a Chef
Episodes We Think You’ll Like
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Revisiting Pies: Desperation, Thrift, and Brand Campaigns