The Bounty of Pie

Hey Folks!
Thanksgiving is days away and what is more delicious then Thanksgiving pie?

Meat Pie, berry pie, cream pie, fruit pie. Pie for breakfast, pie for lunch, pie for dinner, and pie for dessert, pie is with us all year long.

Centuries of homesteaders from England to America and all over the world have been mastering the art of delicious fillings wrapped in blankets of flaky, golden crusts. Pie, the heart of any farmer’s menu.

The history of pie in America is delicious, but it took some time before good old apple pie was a thing.
In fact the first pies were hearty meat pies! Just imagine in medieval times, knights and farmers alike relishing their venison pies. Pie was a way of preserving food, and also the first grab and go lunches! In a time when Tupperware wasn’t around to pack a good lunch with, the loving wife would package the meal in crust and the hungry plowman would stop his work to munch on some cold meat pasties.

Pies have always been a wonderfully delicious method of dealing with the bounty at hand. In Spring we have and abundance of fresh berries, fresh and highly perishable. So what is more convenient then rolling out a quick crust and throwing together a fresh strawberry pie? (Check out our strawberry blog for recipes) No wonder grandma became famous for spoiling her grandkids with pie! In summer it’s cream and citrus, pie. During Fall harvest we have an abundance of fruit, and apple pie shines. Winter, those pumpkins are ready to be put to use and made into prime pie. In England Christmas is celebrated with cozy mince meat pies. Pie is a celebration of bounty!

Today we see pie in many forms and rising to so many different occasions. From the medieval peasant grabbing a pork pie for lunch, to dear old grandma’s family favorite apple pie, to the ultra swanky pies in New York City over the holidays.

For years, Mom was the only one to bake the celebratory pie for Thanksgiving. However, now that she has 3 baking daughters, its a pie bake-off every autumn! Thanksgiving prep day will see us all in the kitchen rolling out sheets of (hopefully) flaky crusts preparing the classics of apple, pumpkin, and pecan, cutting out creative leaf designs, and having a blast. Over the years, I have to admit there have been some bland, squashy tasting pumpkin pies, and soggy crusts here and there, but there is all ways next time to get it right! Care and Love, is what’s necessary when working with pie.-Care and Love.
But pie holds a key place in our home long before Fall and Thanksgiving roll along. In fact it’s present all year, changing filling with the season!

Lately, mini hand pies have been a family favorite on the homestead. Growing up, Dad used to treat us kids to McDonald’s mini apple pies,-so delicious on the road. But what’s even better is home-baked mini apple pie, with caramel sauce drizzled on top…simply superb. Dad has found joy recently in creating every guy’s dream of hearty hand held beef potato pies. He got so excited after the first round, he spent two days in the kitchen rolling out pasties! He means to make them a staple in the Rose house now. 🙂

In summation, as we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us remember the bounty of the Lord. His overflowing mercy and grace is new every morning, thru every season, thru all the years.
Let us celebrate God’s bounty with pie.

Happy Baking!
~Jean

Here is the Mini Apple Hand Pie recipe I used, but be sure to really stuff them-Yum!
And here is a recipe for some hearty meat pies. but I used pie crust instead of store biscuit dough.

Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.