NIN-NIN'S FAVOURITE PIES

My Grandmother, who I called Nin-Nin, would never have served a meal that was not followed by dessert. We lived with her until I was 11 when she passed away. Pies were her specialty and she had a few that were her favourites and hardly a week went went by that we didn't have one or the other at some point. I hope you give one or more of them a try. And don't substitute. I have found that margarine just doesn't make the grade in any of these recipes. You need real butter.

NIN-NIN'S SHOO FLY PIE

When I was very little, Nin-Nin, used to make this pie every Saturday morning. We used to enjoy it at lunchtime while we watched the Flintstones. No matter how often Nin-Nin made it, I never got tired of it.

2 unbaked pie shells

Crumb topping mix:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 tsp. cinnamon

Pie mix:
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp. baking soda. Dissolve in the boiling water.

Mix the topping ingredients in a bowls until they look like crumbs. In a separate bowl combine all the pie mix ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour half the pie mix into one pie shell and the rest into the other pie shell. Split the crumb topping between the two pies. Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes and then lower the heat to 350 degrees F and bake for another 50 minutes. Cool well before eating.

BUTTERMILK PIE

2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons flour
A lump of butter the size of an egg
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 pre-made uncooked pie shells

Beat all ingredients together well. Pour into the two pie shells. Bake at 350 degrees F. for approxiamately 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Cool completely. Top with real whipped cream. Serve cold.

BACKWOODS PIE

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup maple syrup (has to be the real stuff)
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
Yolks of 3 eggs (keep whites)
Nutmeg to taste

Beat all together well. Beat the egg whites till stiff and gently fold into the syrup mixture. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.

CARROT PIE

1 cup cooked, mashed carrots
1/2 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 pint of milk
2 tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 unbaked pie shell

Beat all together very well. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

CRANBERRY PIE

1 cup cranberries cut in halves
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon flour mixed in 1/2 cup water
1 beaten egg
crust for 1, 2 crust pie

Mix ingredients together well. pour into pastry bottom. Top with layer of pastry. Bake at 350degrees F. approxiamately 40 minutes or until done.

VINEGAR PIE

This is just one of the many recipes I have for Vinegar Pie. Each state or area it seems, had it's own version of it. Since my Granmother was from the Arnprior, Ontario region, I will presume that this was the version that was popular there. Or perhaps Nin just found it in a book and liked it. Tastes a bit like lemon pie.

1 egg
1 tablespoon (heaping) flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
1 cup cold water
Nutmeg to taste

Beat the egg, flour and sugar together. Add the vinegar and cold water. Flavor with nutmeg and pour into 2 unbaked pie shells. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.

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