A-Z of Pies ...

Depending if you like pies here’s an A-Z Game of PIES. And a few interesting facts……..

Edited - a bit more history of the pie. When I was much younger, I always thought pies originated in Lancashire 🙄. But pies were around as far back as in Ancient Egypt (called galletes), quite flat and made from barley, wheat or oats with honey and fruits inside the crust.

The Romans didn't tend to eat crusts as the crust was broken off and used as a 'utensil' to eat the actual pie from.

In Medieval times, live birds (not harmed) were inserted into pies. A space to fit them in was made, the pie was cooked and THEN little birds like songbirds, or even frogs, were then inserted into the space. The pie would be brought to the table and all the little creatures would fly out - they weren't harmed and it was a source of great entertainment for the guests. The pie wasn't eaten it was just all done for entertainment value!

When fowl were used in pies the legs would be hanging over the outside edge; it's said that that is where Desperate Dan got the idea of cow's horns sticking out of his pies; this could however be misinformation as we all know Desperate Dan was a comic character 😉.

The ‘Upper Crust Steak Pie’ was created by the Fence Gate Inn in Lancashire and was sold for 8195.00 GBP or 1,024 GBP - PER SLICE, on 14th November 2005. The luxurious ingredients included Japanese Wagyu Beef fillet, Chinese Matsutake mushrooms, Winter Black Truffles, French Bluefoot mushrooms, gravy made with two bottles of vintage 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine and all topped with edible gold leaf.

The Jefferson Davis pie - This pie is believed to have been created by a Missouri slave named Mary Ann during the Civil War when she worked as a cook for a confederate merchant and was named after the former President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis in the 1860’s. It isn’t one I’d like to try tbh containing flour, sugar, butter, eggs, ‘heavy cream’ and bourbon. It’s described as being like a pecan pie – but without the pecans or like a pumpkin pie – but without the pumpkins. The more important reason I would not find it appetising is that Davis gained the reputation of preserving slavery so not a pie or person I’d celebrate.

The last word surely has to go to the UK 2nd favourite superhero in 2011 second only to Batman – the one and only ‘The Dandy’s - Desperate Dan’ the wild west character in the now defunct Scottish comic. Created in 1937 Desperate Dan made his first appearance in that first issue and his last appearance in the final issue in 2013. He stood the test of time with his super-strength, from being initially an outlaw to becoming more sympathetic and using his strength to help the underdog. He was very strong using a blowtorch to shave his very tough beard, sleeping on a pillow made from building rubble and even able to lift a cow with one hand. His favourite meal was the enormous Cow Pie which included the horns sticking out of the crust. The comic is no longer in print but The Dandy Annual is. I’d personally prefer the Annual than the Pie 😁.

I'll start with ….. Apple Pie