P is for Pecan Pie
Double letter score. Wonder how many more double letter topics I’ll be able to write for the rest of A to Z blogging challenge?
Pecans are native to North America, but are found primarily in the southern parts. They were a big part of the Native American diet before the settlers came along and started making things with them.
First successful grafts of the pecan tree were recorded in 1846 by a Louisiana plantation gardener, a slave named Antonio. Through grafting, he was able to plant sixteen trees on their plantation.
There’s a lot of discussion about who originally created the Pecan Pie. Early French settlers made a similar pie out of pecans with a custard filling. Now the pecan pie’s primary ingredients are pecans and corn syrup. So, the makers of Karo Syrup like to make claim to being the creators of the recipe.
Keep in mind that July 12th is National Pecan Pie Day! Be sure to pick one up and celebrate!
Here is a story about a Pecan Pie…
Leslie Brown loved her Mom’s Pecan Pie. They had it for many occasions growing up in Louisiana. She had fond memories of when they used to go out as a family and pick the pecans from the trees out in their backyard. Afterwards, they would come in and her Mom would bake a pie that would be done just before dinner time. Leslie could still remember the nutty sweet smell as the pie was baking.
She thought about this as she opened her dorm refrigerator looking for something to have for a snack. Sometimes she and her Dad would have leftover pie for breakfast if there was any left.
When she moved to Boston to go to college, she had a hard time finding that one pecan pie that would match her Mom’s. She had even gone to her roommate Charlotte’s home for Thanksgiving. It was good, but just not the same.
During her first semester finals, she received a care package from her parents in the mail. She took the box and ran back to the TV lounge where she was studying with the other residents. She tore it open. There were some clothes and a quilt on top, but wrapped in its own special box in the bottom, was the pecan pie. Leslie smiled from ear to ear. She then picked up the card that her Mom had taped to the inside of the box.
“Honey, I was thinking about you over the holidays and didn’t want you to miss out on the pie. It has always been a tradition for us to have and we needed to make sure that our girl got it too. Hopefully it will help you to study and get through your finals. Grandma made you a quilt to keep you warm up there. We’ll see you when you come home for winter break. Love you! Mom and Dad.”
“What did you get?” Charlotte asked.
“Some clothes, a homemade quilt from my Grandma and the pecan pie.” “The pecan pie!” Charlotte exclaimed, “the famed pecan pie?” “Yes. Would you like a piece?” “Yes, I would.”
Leslie ran upstairs to their dorm room to get some plates and forks. She could hardly wait to have a piece of that pie. When she got back downstairs, she saw many people standing around her open box.
“What’s going on?” She asked as she walked back into the lounge. “We’re admiring the quilt that your Grandma made. The pattern of the patches is so unique.” “And the colors are beautiful.”
Leslie paused and looked at the quilt, which was hanging half in and half out of the box. The patches were in the shape of houses and the browns, golds and dark reds reminded her of an autumn walk in Boston when the leaves are changing color. She was so wrapped up in the pie, she completely missed the awesome gift her Grandma sent to her.
“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Leslie asked the group.
She saw many nods from the group. She put the plates and forks down on the floor and picked up the quilt.
“They are all gifts from home,” she said with a smile. “You are one lucky girl,” Charlotte said. “You are right, Charlotte. I am.”