Saturday, January 23 is National Pie Day. (Don't feel embarrassed if you never knew such a holiday existed -- you're not alone.) Despite how much Americans love pies, it's a holiday you don't have to be as "American as apple pie" to appreciate... though it was designed by the AmericanPie Council to promote the simple pleasures of making and eating pies.
Even as you're reading this, just think of how many millions of pies are being baked, sold, and eaten across the country. Approximately 186 million pies are sold in grocery stores annually in America, a number which excludes those baked and served at cafes, restaurants, and other venues.
The origins of pie can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. The early pies or "galettes" were typically made from a mixture of grains -- oats, wheat, rye, or barley -- and honey, baked over hot coals.
Our national love affair with pie started not long after the first English settlers set foot on American soil. In those days, pies were predominantly meat dishes and were baked in "coffyns," an inedible hard pastry shell that was used to hold the filling. Over the years, pies have been embraced as a vital part of American culture and have evolved into the delectable pastry treats we savor today. Despite endless pie varieties from which to choose, apple remains America's all-time favorite (followed closely by pumpkin), according to the Schwan's 2008 "Pie Slice of Life" Survey.
Unlike making a pie, there's no recipe for how to celebrate National Pie Day. You can learn how to bake a pie from your mother, throw a pie party in your backyard, or challenge your friends to a pie-eating contest. If you can't warm up to the idea of baking pies yourself, simply pick one up at your favorite bakery. And if you're simply unable to bake a pie yourself -- well, there's no shame in not knowing how: whoever said making a pie was as "easy as pie" probably never actually tried to make one.
Whether you're enjoying a slice, sharing a whole pie with others, or exchanging your grandma's secret pie recipe with a dear friend, you're already doing your part to celebrate and pass on this sweet American tradition to following generations. After all, pie, like happiness, is best shared.
Suggested Sites...
- American Pie Council - the place for pie lovers to share recipes, get the latest on the pie industry, get discount coupons, and more.
- What's Cooking America - offers detailed history of pie as well as other food-related information.
- Crafty Baking - pie-making 101 for dummies with step-by-step instructions, useful baking terminology, and tips.
- NPR: The Science Behind Baking Your Perfect Pie - baking is an art, but it's also a science.
- 13 Weird Pie Recipes You'll Actually Want to Eat - in case apple is just too ordinary....
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