National Pie Day was on January 23 and the celebration of the mathematical constant is coming up on the 14th of March, so it is a fine time to feature pie for The Plain Truth’s Food and Drink Sunday post.

Some people do not care for a home baked pie, but it is also a favorite for many pie lovers to make. There is nothing like an amazing tried and true pie crust recipe and there also is nothing like getting the ooh’s and ahhh’s from those who enjoy your confections. Does anyone remember the darling and unique series, Pushing Daisies? All surrounded at the diner and pie bakery named The Pie Hole? It was a murder mystery pie extravaganza week after week, cleverly done and surrounding a family that loved to bake pies and the quirky romance of Ned and Charlotte. ~ Jennifer Rae Vliet

A Recipe from Pushing Daisies, the television Series

Here is the alleged history of Pie from the pie council’s website…

History Of Pies

• Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians. The first pies were made by early Romans who may have learned about it through the Greeks. These pies were sometimes made in “reeds” which were used for the sole purpose of holding the filling and not for eating with the filling.
• The Romans must have spread the word about pies around Europe as the Oxford English Dictionary notes that the word pie was a popular word in the 14th century. The first pie recipe was published by the Romans and was for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie.
• The early pies were predominately meat pies. Pyes (pies) originally appeared in England as early as the twelfth century. The crust of the pie was referred to as “coffyn”. There was actually more crust than filling. Often these pies were made using fowl and the legs were left to hang over the side of the dish and used as handles. Fruit pies or tarts (pasties) were probably first made in the 1500s. English tradition credits making the first cherry pie to Queen Elizabeth I.
• Pie came to America with the first English settlers. The early colonists cooked their pies in long narrow pans calling them “coffins” like the crust in England. As in the Roman times, the early American pie crusts often were not eaten, but simply designed to hold the filling during baking. It was during the American Revolution that the term crust was used instead of coffyn.
• Over the years, pie has evolved to become what it is today “the most traditional American dessert”. Pie has become so much a part of American culture throughout the years, that we now commonly use the term “as American as apple pie.”
• You can see this and more about pie here from the Pie Council

Some Great Videos on the Topic of Pie

America’s Test Kitchen has a short and sweet video on a secret to the perfect pie crust and the best peach pie below:

A Special Tip from Jennifer on how to make your finished pie crust, after it has baked, look even more delicious and inviting to the eye…

I learned this during my schooling at The Culinary Institue of America…

Make a PIE SHINE (recipe below) and use a pastry brush to paint a thin layer of this concoction on your warm baked pie crust about 17 minutes after it has come out of the oven…

One part Simple Syrup with one equal part of Corn Syrup or something similar depending on you making a healthier choice…it makes for a dreamy looking glistening crust. You will be so happy you learned about this trick!

No matter when you are indulging in a beautiful home baked pie, it is something to savor!

Ecclesiastes 9:7

7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.