Make National Pie Day Last All Week

The American Pie Council declared January 23 National Pie Day in honor of the centuries-old tradition first crafted by the ancient Egyptians. While the APC website details a brief history of pie, it also provides a list of events nation-wide so that you can find a celebratory event in your area.

If you would prefer to pay tribute to pie in your own kitchen, look no further than AARP's recipe for a delicious lemon meringue, sure to bring some sweetness into your day!

 

Lemon Meringue Pie

5 eggs, separated

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

1/3 cup lemon juice

4 tablespoons cornstarch

1-1/3 cups hot water

1 tablespoon butter

Salt

1 9-inch baked pie shell

10 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1.  Preheat the oven to 350° F. Put the egg yolks in a bowl and add the sugar, lemon rind and juice, and cornstarch. Mix well.
2. Put the mixture in the top of a double boiler and add hot water a bit at a time, stirring until the mixture is smooth and thick. Stir in the butter and a pinch of salt. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.
3. Pour the cooled lemon mixture into the pie shell.
4. To make the meringue, beat the egg whites, slowly adding the sugar, cream of tartar, and another pinch of salt. Cover the lemon custard with the meringue, forming peaks with a whisk.
5. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.
6. Lastly, enjoy!

 

If lemon isn't your flavor of choice or if you are looking for an inexpensive recipe using ingredients you may already have on hand, here is a recipe for Old-Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie from AARP's Jeff Yeager, star of the new Cheap Life Show.

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cream Pie

1 cup sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour (minus 1 tablespoon)

1 pint half-and-half or heavy cream

1 unbaked pie crust (9 inch)

3 tablespoons butter

1. Thoroughly mix sugar and flour in a bowl.
2. Add half-and-half and stir well.
3. Pour into pie shell and dot with butter.
4. Bake in a preheated 500 degree oven for 5-7 minutes, then gently stir ingredients in the shell and bake 5 minutes longer, then stir again. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake 30 minutes longer, or until a knife blade inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Sprinkle top with cinnamon and/or nutmeg if desired. Cool before serving.

 

And if savory is more your style, or if you'd like to dedicate dinner solely to pie, try AARP's recipe for Chicken Yuca Pie.

For more recipes, look to AARP's Ebook!

Photo Credit: David Maddison via Flickr Creative Commons