Hello Everyone!
Turkey Day is on the way.
What's on the menu?  Now that may sound like a silly question, but think of all those people who either don't like the famous bird or are perhaps allergic (sad thought) so alternative cooking comes into play here, and who says it has to be the traditional big gobbler?  How about cornish hens or a crown roast?  Well this year in my kitchen, cornish hens with oyster dressing are on the menu, with some long-grain wild rice and some steamed vegetables.  Now dessert can not be forgotten because that just seems un-American.
So I've decided to talk a little history about pie, with information I was enlightened by in a little local newspaper article, from the neighborhood.
One of the first pies ever known was a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie. And the very spelling of pie as we know it used to be pye.  The crusts weren't as they are now, they were styled more like an edging aroud the filling and were known as coffyns, and usually not eaten.
The term pie crust was not given birth until after the American Revolution.
The first pumpkin pie was actually made within the pumpkin, the tops were cut off, the pumpkins were seeded and the shells were filled with milk, spices and honey, then baked, thus a custard like filling would set-up.
Pecan pies were first introduced in the 1600's. Roughly about 250 million pounds are produced right from our southern states.
America actually has a pie council; the American Pie Council, which devotes time to preserving our pie heritage.  We Americans are crazy about our pies!
National Pie Day is January 23, the 2011 will mark their 10th year.
Now according to a survey done by Crisco, the number one favorite flavor of pie in America is Apple(no surprise) with pumpkin being second, my personal fav apparently didn't make the top of their list, which is cherry.  However a la mode is apparently in contention with cheese as being the two favorite toppings on that pie. Cold Pies, such as strawberry and chocolate are runner's up for holiday tables.  There are as many recipes for pies as there are cooks, to be certain, so I truely hope everyone gets a slice of your favorite, and I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving feast!