Pies, who does not like them? All American, a Thanksgiving tradition;
everyone saves room for Pie after eating a filling feast. Have you ever wondered where they originated
from?
The first pies called "coffins", sounds bad doesn't
it? Coffins originally meant box or basket. These medieval pies had thick crust
of several inches to withstand hours of cooking. The crust being inedible to
eat, only the contents were enjoyed.
Historians believe
the Greeks were the first to make pies. Their crust consisted of a flour-water
paste, which they wrapped around meats sealing in flavors and juices. Greek
pies were commonly made of beef, lamb, wild duck, and magpie pigeon with spices
of pepper, currants and dates.
English women baked pies long before the settlers came to
America. Shepherd's Pie, made from lamb and vegetables, and Cottage Pie made
from beef and vegetables, both topped with potatoes, were the favorites.
Contrary to our grade school teaching of Thanksgiving, the
first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 did not have pumpkin or pecan pie. The
Pilgrims brought with them from England recipes that were meat based. The
Colonist cooked pies to preserve the fillings inside the crust, thus keeping
them fresh through the winter. Their pies highlighted local ingredients; adding
dried and fresh fruits, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg to season their meat pies.
Pumpkin pie first found recorded in an English cookbook of 1675. It originated
for the British making a pie from spiced and boiled squash. In the early 1800s,
Pumpkin Pie became popular in America.
The saying "as American as Apple Pie" originally
came from England; made from unsweetened
apples, surrounded by an inedible shell/crust. Pie became unpopular in the
1970s due to diet concerns and restrictions. Today pies are again popular and
made to celebrate America's abundance. One of the most famous days for baking
and eating pies is the 4th of July.
Remember this: On February 3, 1959, a small plane crashed
near Clear Lake, Iowa. The accident killed three American Rock and Roll Icons,
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the big Bopper and the Pilot. Later an American singer-songwriter Don
McLean stated this is "the Day the Music Died" thus composing the
great song, "American Pie".
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