If you happen to find yourself in NYC next week, food historian Francine Segan is speaking at the 92nd Street Y on the history on the history of pie (hat tip to Allison Hemler at Serious Eats NY):
Pie! A Tasting and History, Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm
From the Y’s website:
Pies, both sweet and savory, have a fascinating history. find out the stories behind pie-eating contests and the three-foot-high pasta pies served to Italian royalty; pie recipes that won $25,000; why the expression “American as apple pie” is grossly untrue and much more. Includes tasting of mock apple, lemon meringue and banana cream pies, tarts and savory pies. Recipe handouts allow you to indulge your sweet tooth at home.
As a child I was always intrigued by the recipe for mock apple pie on the Ritz crackers box (and also by the tale of Ma Ingalls’ similar pie, made with green tomatoes), but never quite intrigued or brave enough to actually make it.
If you can’t make it to New York but would like to include more food in your history — or music and movie appreciation –studies, Ms. Segan has a list of her lecture topics here (Feasting with Caesar: Lush Life in Ancient Rome and The King’s Table: Sea Serpent Stew & Dragon’s Brew, for delicious example) and has also written a number of cookbooks to spark your imagination:
Shakespeare’s Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook
The Philosopher’s Kitchen: Recipes from Ancient Greece and Rome for the Modern Cook
The Opera Lover’s Cookbook: Menus for Elegant Entertaining
Movie Menus: Recipes for Perfect Meals with Your Favorite Films
Filed under: American history, Books, Education, Food, History, Movies, Music, Recipes, World history
I used to read the mock apple pie recipe, too. I still haven’t tried it. Haven’t bought a box of Ritz cracker in at least 20 years, either.
I remembered Ma Ingall’s pie being made from green pumpkins. In fact, I saw some green pumpkins on a friend’s porch today and almost suggested it (except that I thought it was one of those things you make when you’re really desperate … sort of like Ritz Cracker apple pie!)
I was once intrigued enough to try the Ritz mock apple pie. The result was that I wished I had been less easily intrigued.
Thought you might enjoy this, too:
http://www.foodtimeline.org/
At the last library sale I picked up a copy of:
Cooking Up U.S. History, Recipes and Research to Share With Children by, Suzanne I. Barchers and Patricia C. Marden
Admittedly, I haven’t made anything from it as a cookbook, but the book is well arranged, and makes for excellent reading.
I made a green tomato pie this year, and everyone agreed it tasted like dried apples. My mother never bought Ritz crackers so I was spared the longing for a mock apple pie.