Pie oh My! (and a kitchen giveaway!)
(NOTE: Be sure to read all the way to the end for the giveaway!) When I first married Todd and we lived in a tiny apartment in Three Rivers, Michigan, I loved to putt around in our minuscule kitchen. The shiny new kitchen gadgets we’d received at our showers and for our wedding were a delight to me.
If you have read my book on hospitality, A Life That Says Welcome, you know I had about zero culinary skills when I began. To make matters worse, I married into a family full of people adept at interior decorating, sewing, baking, cooking and one who even ended up crafting a wildly successful bed and breakfast that was featured in Southern Living Magazine!
Well, I wanted to learn to be wildly successful in the kitchen too!
I started with pies.
Yes ma’am! I wanted to learn to whip me up a from-scratch crust, picked-the-fruit-up-at-a-southwestern-Michigan-roadside-stand, gen-u-ine perfect pie!
So I started with peach, since the fuzzy fruit was in peak season.
And folks, I took it waaaaay too seriously!
I stressed and obsessed.
I peeled and sliced, making sure all the slices were the same size.
I measured and sifted and rolled out the dough.
The result?
It was edible, but ugly.
Well, 24 years of practice has found me still making pies. (And it is true–practice does make perfect. Got myself three blue-ribbon rosettes from the Clinton County Fair to prove it!!!! Yes that is total bragging! But it was also to encourage you. If this Betty Crocker drop-out can learn to do it, anyone can!)
Seriously, pies are so versatile! They can break the ice with a new neighbor, say “I am praying for you” to a troubled family, “Thank you so much!” to the man who fixed your kitchen sink or “We are thrilled for you!” to the couple welcoming their first baby.
It has been a pie week around here. In our circle of friends pies were needed for two families who lost loved ones, one who welcomed baby number six, a dear grandpa of my son’s friend who ran him to baseball games at times we could not and we wanted to say thank you, a new friend who stayed home from work with a serious case of vertigo and couldn’t cook for her family, and yes, the friend who worked on the plumbing under my kitchen sink (uh…even thought that was many weeks ago and I’m just now getting him his promised peach pie. Sorry Doug!)
So, the total so far this week?
Seven and counting.
Now, while there are times I can make my blue-ribbon, flaky, from-scratch crust, let me just say, those roll-out refrigerated kinds work wonders too!!! And I did me some shortcut rolling this week to save time and my sanity.
Yes, I still love making pies. And I love the look on the faces of friends and strangers when I deliver one.
How about you? Will you set aside time this weekend to ask God who might be encouraged or cheered by a pie made from your sweet hands? Here are a few EASY recipes to get you started. (I’ll post the from scratch crust recipe here too for the brave.)
Easy Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie
One box roll-out refrigerated pie crust
2 1/2 C. chopped, cooked chicken
1 C. sharp cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 bag Freshlike frozen vegetables for soup (don’t just use mixed vegetables, find one that has potatoes in it too)
Salt and pepper
Mix all but crust in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. (I use about 4 shakes of salt and 6-8 of pepper.) Roll out one crust in a pie pan, leaving the edges hanging over.
Place ingredients from bowl into crust. Roll out second crust on top. Use your fingers to crimp edges of both crusts tightly together to seal. (I like NOT to have them hang over the edge of pan, but instead push them in close to the pie so the edge of the pan still shows. This prevents the edges of the crust from burning.)
Seal well with Saran wrap. Add a note that says: “Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.” Note: if they’d like to freeze the pie for later, it will be all wrapped and ready. Just make sure they know to fully thaw it before baking or it won’t be done in an hour.
Fresh Peach Pie
(This recipe is taken from the 1963 Martha Dixon Cookbook. She was a local Lansing, Michigan TV personality whom my mother loved. Her cookbook was re-released in 1984 and my mom bought me a new copy for a bridal shower gift. It is now vintage with splashes and stains, the way a cookbook should be!!!)
5-6 cups sliced fresh peaches
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 C. sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon butter
One box roll-out refrigerator dough (or from-scratch recipe below)
Mix all but butter in a bowl. Turn into a crust-lined pie shell. Dot the top with butter. Cover with remaining edges. Crimp tightly, pushing toward pie and not leaving crust on the edge of the pan. (This prevents burning). Bake at 425 degrees for 30-40 minutes until bubbly.
From-Scratch Crust:
2 cups unbleached flour
scant cup butter-flavored Crisco (about a teaspoon or two less than a cup)
1 teaspoon salt
6-8 tablespoons of water from melting ice (seriously–cold tap water will not work, so get out a bowl, fill it with ice and let it begin melting a while before you begin).
Mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender (or two forks if you don’t have one) Stir water in lightly to form a ball. DO NOT HANDLE TOO MUCH! It will make the dough tough, not flaky. Divide in half and roll out on a well floured counter to make a circle just a bit bigger in diameter than your pie pan. Repeat with top crust. Follow recipe for your favorite pie.
Okay–now for the giveaway. Leave a comment from now til midnight PST Sunday on pie. What kind of pie you like. What pies you make. Why you have never, ever made a pie. A funny flop-of-a-pie story. What kind of pie your hubby likes. Anything! One random winner will be chosen to receive a copy of my book A Life That Says Welcome along with a Paula Deen Apple pie-scented candle and a gen-u-ine kitchen pastry blender.
Happy Baking!
I think the best pie I ever made was a two time prize winner – Raspberry Pie. It took first place two years in a row at our hometown festival. I inherited my ability to make good pie crust from my Grandmother (my mom couldn’t seem to get it right so she did the boughten thing). Every time I roll out my pie crust, I think of my Grandma Bailey.
I have only made one real pie once in my life. It didn’t turn out so great. My mom was great at making pies. Unfortunately, we lost her when I was 18 and for the time I had her in my life I was far from interested in learning from her. I do regret that. But I’m going to make up for it now. I have been so ready to overcome my fear and jump in the kitchen and just do it. I want to make crust from scratch. Homemaking seems to be a lost art that is making a come back with all my peers. So many ladies my age are growing gardens, sewing, cooking homemade meals. I’m so excited to be a part of this movement! I’m ready to get in the kitchen and bake a pie!
I love a delish apple pie. I was very young (about 10 or 11) when my grandmother taught me how to make her homemade country apple pie. Everytime I went to her house she always had one in the oven or just out of the oven. In other words, perfect for adding a scoop of ice cream. On occasion she would make a blackberry cobbler using the fresh berries we had just picked. Apple pie and chocolate cake were her specialties. She passed away right at 2 years ago. Thank you for reviving such wonderful memories.
I once took a shoo-fly pie to a get-together. My husband took the first piece, then quietly took me aside and told me there was something wrong with it. So I tasted it and discovered it was horribly strong and bitter. Instantly I knew what was wrong. I had used blackstrap molasses in it rather than the mild and sweet baking molasses. We surreptitiously removed the pie from the table and put it back in the carrier to be taken home and discarded. Will I never get too old for blunders???
I had to giggle when I came over here…first comment from Julie Gillies :-) I miss those up north apples too! My parents are bringing some from WV next week! Hope to make one pie out of them!!!!
Apple Pies are our favorite here….Would like to find a good amish recipe for Peanut Butter Pie..hubby loves those!
And would love to win your contest! God Bless!
I LOVE pie. I’d rather have my birthday candles in a pie than a cake. And Michigan roadside stands – blueberries, peaches, cherries…mmmmm. But I have never mastered the crust. And I even have a hard time with the refrigerated kind. But I’m going to try your recipe. My husband like peach pie, so I’m goin’ for the whole shootin’ match! Thanks! :-)
I’m not sure I’ve ever met a pie I didn’t like :) My Grandma used to bake me a rhubarb (NO strawberries!) pie for my birthday every year… lately my favorite has been coconut cream pie.
In the spring & summer, I like Lemon Meringue! But come fall, I can’t wait for some creamy Pumpkin Pie!
My favorite pie in the whole world is my mom’s apple pie. It is perfect! I have only baked pies with her. I am intimidated and very insecure about doing it on my own and it seems like it takes a really long time. Thanks for the recipes. :)
I’m not a pie person, so I hardly ever make them, but I have made 3 blueberry pies in the last 10 days. Even with homemade crust!
Favorite pie is peach! My grandma used to make a grated apple pie with a crumb topping–yumm. I agree a pie is so much better than cake–actually there is no comparison!
I have an “Andy Rooney” comment on pie. Have you ever noticed that a slice of pie has a major architectural flaw? Whenever you eat one from the point end, as everyone does, it falls over by the time you’re halfway through. Why do we put up with this? It works better to eat it from the crust side toward the point. But nobody does that, so it makes you look like a dork when you’re really just being sensible!
That said, I love pie. I agree 110 % with all the other chocolate lovers who have already commented. French Silk- mmmmmmm!
Okay, you are making me feel bad. My husband’s absolute favorite dessert in the whole world is a homemade apple pie. But I lean more toward chocolate cake, brownies, cookies, cheesecake…so that is what I make. Tonight we had already planned on making homemade pizza “pies” I guess I’ll add and apple pie to the mix! You’ll be my hubbies favorite person!
I love cherry! But, apple is my specialty.
I come from a long line of great cooks and learned alongside my mom in her kitchen. I made my first pie 9 years ago as a new bride. It was a saskatoon/rhubarb pie and the crust was made from scratch. It turned out good for the very first try. To this day, that is still my very favourite pie and I get rave reviews about it from friends & family (okay, I am bragging just a little!). Thank you for sharing:)
My favorite pie to make is apple, but my husband’s favorite to eat is blackberry! I love to take my kids to pick the blackberries… somehow it makes the pie sweeter :)
We have a 75 year old neighbor who calls every once in a while and says, “I have a lonely pumpkin pie over here. Would you mind if I brought it over?” Her pies are delicious! When I asked for her recipe she laughed and told me it was on the pumpkin can. It makes two pies so she always has one to share. That has become my favorite pumpkin pie recipe! Thank you for the post today, Karen!
It is so timely for you to post a peach pie recipe! I have been making peach cobblers. (easier than pie to me) I had been thinking of trying a pie instead for the rest of the peaches that I have. I am not good at the whole crust thing, but am willing to try and learn! I can practice between now and November and surprise the family at Thanksgiving with a beautiful pie! Probably visions of grandeur but I will give it a go anyway. Thanks for sharing and for a fun contest!
I love peach and strawberry pies! My favorite meal to take people is a chicken pot pie. A big hit everytime.
I am new to pie-baking- the first (and only!) pie I have made was for my husband’s birthday. I actually did an everything made from scratch apple pie. I even attempted to lattice the crust. It wasn’t too bad for a first attempt I guess, but I look forward to trying again and making it better! For me though, nothing is better than a chocolate pie!
I love to make pie but ALWAYS use the roll out crust. People always comment on the crust so I figured never a reason to learn a “from scratch” version ;) My husband’s favorite pie is apple and I felt quite esteemed when he declared my pie even better than his Mom’s!! Recently I made a cherry pie for the very first time and fell in love! It’s my favorite pie and I was surprised how easy it was to make. Pie truly is a wonderful gift! Thanks for the recipes Karen!!
My favorite pie is Peanut Butter Pie, but not just any peanut butter pie. I found a recipe and decided to use a graham cracker crust instead of regular. The recipe then has you put chocolate in the bottom of the crust. Then you have your peanut butter layer topped off with more chocolate. I LOVE it, but only make it once a year or so. It’s too much temptation!
I love Paula!! My favorite pie to make is apple pie! :)
I loooovvee me some pie! Much netter than cake. But first on my list is chocolate. Chocolate pie with a nice fluffy meringue. I also make a chocolate chess pie. (Yes, I am a chocoholic!) I am no Betty Crocker or Paula Deen. And my pies always consist of the store bought crusts. From the pan or the ones you roll out. I will admit that I never even searched a recipe on how to make one from scratch….but you have provided! Now to be brave and try it! :-)
And thanks for the chicken pie recipe. Needed something else to add to my menu for next week! Off to the grocery store!!
Hi Karen,
First of all, I loved your authenticity at She Speaks. Thank you, girl, for keeping it real!
Now, about pies. I adore apple pies. I’m from Michigan, so that makes sense. But now I live in Florida, and by the time we receive the apples way down here they just aren’t quite as good.
Back in the day (in Michigan) I’d go around the corner to Ashton’s Cider Mill and buy bushels of Ida Reds and prepare dozens of pies, then put them in my big freezer down in the basement so we could enjoy home made apple pies all year long. I really miss that! But I DO try to get home (to Michigan) every October. And I ALWAYS bring home fresh apples and bake a pie.