There, I said it. I'm afraid of pie. My Mam-Ma made the best pies in the world. I've yet to have a slice of pie that was as delicious as hers or see one that looked quite as pretty. It seemed so effortless to her, the way she handled the dough, dropping in just tiny bits of ice water until it was the perfect consistency to roll. She always had some pie dough in the freezer, just waiting to be made into one of her tempting treats. Apple (hers was pink inside), and chocolate meringue were my favorites. What I wouldn't give to be standing next to her on that green metal stool just watching her work her magic one more time. I bet I would pay closer attention, 'cause this girl can't make a pie crust. About that pink apple pie, red hots were her secret ingredient. All my life I have thought other apple pies just weren't near as pretty. She didn't go for the big chunks of apple either, this woman could slice apples paper thin. Imagine these paper thin slices of apples just mounded up inside the pie plate. I can still see her putting the top crust on and so nimbly pinching the edges to make the perfect flute. I am fortunate that I do have a hand written recipe of that pie dough, but it intimidates me. Maybe one day I will conquer that fear, but in the meantime, ain't nothin' wrong with a Pillsbury pie crust. I buy the one in the refrigerator section, not the frozen one in the tin. This way, you can put it in your own dish and it actually looks homemade. It doesn't hold a candle to Mam-Ma's, but it beats mine to pieces!
Last weekend a girlfriend was telling me they had been on a pineapple kick. Since we were going to their house for dinner I decided to try my hand at one of Mam-Ma's pie recipes, pineapple cream with a meringue top. If you're not into meringue, this would be just as delicious with a whipped cream top, with maybe a little toasted coconut sprinkled over it. This wasn't one she made often, but it was always good. My meringue wasn't nearly as high, and my store bought crust wasn't as beautiful, but it tasted almost the same. I sure wish she was here to have some with me!
Obviously, my fingers aren't as nimble, but I can use a fork!
Next time, I'll use 4 eggs instead of 2 to make my meringue taller, but it sure did brown up nicely.
This is the recipe I used and I highly recommend it. In reading this recipe, it seems many a grandmother made a pineapple cream pie. If it sounds strange to you, I understand, but try it! It's delicious...as evidenced (or not) by the fact that I don't have a photo of the finished pie, it was gone that quick!
