Pie. Pecan Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. It’s a pie kind of day.
Sure there’s turkey and gravy. Potatoes are well-loved today. Cranberries bring sparkle. Champagne brings pop. But the heart of the meal comes at the end. When you realize just how lucky you are. This is the pie part. The pie from the heart part.
“You like pie? I like pie”. We’ve all said something like that– including Barack Obama. If only it were true. Politically speaking.
Because pie is an American metaphor. Pecan Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. It’s been a metaphor since someone coined the phrase, “As American as…”
Other countries like pie. Of course they do. But we Americans make pie the emotional center of this day, today.
Pecan Pie. Pumpkin Pie. Apple Pie. It’s pie kind of day. So I thought I’d share some quotes about pie. There are more than a few quotes about pie. But that shouldn’t surprise you– today of all days.
“Pie is the American synonym of prosperity, and its varying contents the calendar of the changing seasons.” ~ NY Times, 1902
“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” ~ David Mamet
“Pie is the food of the heroic. No pie eating nation can ever be vanquished.” ~NY Times
“We resort, frankly, to pies, which is a comedy staple that’s gone back, I guess, to since the first pie was ever baked.” ~Johnny Carson
“When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it’s not, mmmmmmmm, boy.” – Jack Handy
“This must be where pies go when they die.” ~ Twin Peaks
“You like pie? I like pie.” ~ Barack Obama
Pecan Pie is my kind of pie. This is how my mother made it. GREG
*This is a pretty good basic pie crust recipe. http://www.sippitysup.com/recipe/perfect-pie-crust/
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust recipe *
- 1 ½ cup pecan halves
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar (you may use granulated as well, or a mix of both)
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon dark rum
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- whipped cream (optional)
Directions
Prepare pie crust recipe (see notes). Divide dough in half, shape into 2 discs about 5‑inches in diameter and 3/4‑inch thick. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days), or freeze up to 1 month.
On a lightly floured surface use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out one disc of chilled dough to a 12-inch round, a generous 1/8‑inch thick. Carefully fold dough in half, and slide it onto the rolling pin. Transfer to a 9‑inch pie pan. Unfold the dough, easing it gently into the pie pan; do not stretch the dough.Fold the overhan inder creating a double thick rim. Crimp the edge decoratively with your fingers and use a fork to prick the bottom of the dough in several spots. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Save second disc of dough for another purpose.
Place oven rack in middle and bottom positions. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cover prepared pie shell with parchment, leaving a bit of overhang, and add enough pie weights or dried beans to cover bottom. Bake on center rack for 15 minutes. Remove parchment and weights, and bake and center rack until barely golden, about 5 more minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine pecans with 1 tablespoon butter and salt. Spread on a baking pan and toast until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine sugar, corn syrup, rum, vanilla, and remaining butter. Stir in eggs. Add toasted pecans. Pour filling into cooled crust. Cover lightly with foil.
Bake on the bottom rack for 20 minutes. Remove foil then continue to bake until the center of the pie feels gelatin-like when pressed with the back of a spoon, about 30 more minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.
Job well done, Greg. Your pie looks just like the ones that my grandmother used to make.
I love that you put rum in it. You could have used more and I wouldn’t have complained 🙂 Hope this was the hit of the TG feast!
Just read your interview on Dawn’s site and commented over there!
Yes for pie power! This pecan beauty is a GEM.
Love the hit of dark rum in this! We haven’t made a pecan pie in ages, and really should again. And lately we’ve been putting dark rum in our whipped cream — I’ll bet that’d pair well with this. 🙂
I did put a touch of dark rum in the cream!
I just made Bijouxs version of classic Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving — we are always on the same page — love the pie!
I never met a pie or a nut I didn’t like. I’m impressed with your pie crust.
Yea, pie. Forget love, all you need is pie.
Well love is good too. Pie love.
I love pie.
I agree, the pie quotes are awesome.
I have fallen in love with pecans off late. Love this pie.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING>
I do love pie! Much as I like cake, I’ll always choose pie. Your pie is gorgeous. Besides pie, of course, I made a homely little dessert in honor of my ancestors who came over on the Mayflower — Indian Pudding.
Love your pie philosophy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Ha! Love all the pie quotes. Pecan pie is one of my favorites and this one looks perfect!