A Pie For All Seasons by Helen Henderson

 

Windmaster Legacy by Helen Henderson
Click the cover for purchase information

 

Cold and gray skies that look like it will dump snow at any moment calls for comfort food. Although it is not a politically declared holiday, January 23rd is National Pie Day, which is as good a way as any to brighten a winter's meal. Although pies can trace its roots all the way back to the Greeks who are credited with creating the first pastry shell by mixing together water and flour, they and their Roman and Middle Age descendants bear little resemblance to the modern dishes called "pie." Fillings have ranged from honey and fruits or nuts to meats, fish, and mussels. The pumpkin, apple, and quince fillings once popular have expanded. Today, the top ten pie fillings include: 1) Apple, 2) Pumpkin, 3) Chocolate Creme, 4) Cherry, 5) Apple Crumb, 6) Pecan, 7) Lemon Meringue, 8) Blueberry, 9) Key Lime Pie and 10) Peach. And in recognition of my southern neighbors, don't forget sweet potato pie.

The smell of warm, fresh from the oven, pies pushes back the winter doldrums. The taste raises memories of holidays past and watching the elder members of the family make the crusts while us younger ones peel and slice what seemed like bushels of apples. Eventually, us "youngsters" progressed to making the crust under the watchful eye of our grandmother.

A family favorite that doesn't make the top ten list, but is very popular in the land of my kin is shoofly pie. For those who aren't familiar with this Pennsylvania Dutch dish from the 1800s, shoofly pie has been referred to as a molasses crumb cake baked in a pie crust. As to the name, flies had to be shooed away from the cooling treat. Or maybe because for some us us that was easier to say than Melassich Riwwelboi or Melassichriwwelkuche. For Valentine's Day (which is a short few weeks away). I may try something different, a "French Kiss" pie. It's described as a decadent French Silk pie, topped with strawberries dipped in Belgian chocolate, and kissed with fresh raspberries.

I like pie, but how about my characters?  One answer comes while shopping at the market when Lady Pelra helps a woman who tripped and fell.

“Why don’t you join me in a cup of chilled cider,” Pelra said. “I think we both can use a breather.” A signal to Cyfaill and Urith to maintain their distance and follow, she led Saibh to a booth farther down the street to a vendor who sold pieces of fruit pie and mugs of chilled cider. Four coppers later, she balanced plates of pie atop two mugs of cider and led Saibh to a bench in the trees behind the booth. (From Windmaster Legend)

On the trail, a hungry apprentice hopes for a meal. But his search raised a question.

Light wood smoke mingled with the enticing smell of fruit pies. Nobyn sucked in the fragrant air. Just the scent of the food was enough to start his mouth watering. Beyond the last of the large trees lining the trail, tall fruit vines covered neat rows of fences. Twisted branches laden with ripe green fruit showed the source of the pie fillings. But who was baking out here? (From Windmaster Legacy)

Whether you are a baker or an afficionado of the pie, here's to a happy pie day.

~Until next month, stay safe and read. Preferably with a big slice of your favorite pie and a cup of hot coffee to chase away the chill.  Helen

To purchase the Windmaster Novels: BWL

 
Find out more about me and my novels at Journey to Worlds of Imagination.
Follow me online at Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter.

Helen Henderson lives in western Tennessee with her husband. While she doesn’t have any pets in residence at the moment, she often visits a husky who has adopted her as one of the pack.