Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Walnut Pie

When I was in grad school, I once went to the Farmer's Market. I think I was looking for flowers, though I can't remember why. What I found instead was this ancient man in overalls sitting on a bench with a flimsy card table in front of him loaded up with what his hand painted sign claimed was "Walnut Pies 50 cents." Well, Citizens of Earth, I don't know about you, but I find a sign like that intriguing. So, I came over to peruse his pies. "Walnut pies?" I asked, picking up the palm-sized dessert. "Yes, ma'am," he said, pointing with his cane towards the boxes next to him, which were also filled with tiny pies. "I make them myself." "I don't even know what a walnut pie is." "My son don't let me work no more and I got nothing to do all day but sit around his house getting old. So, I make walnut pies." "What do they taste like?" "You got fifty cents?" "Well, I have two dollars." "Good enough. Here's four pies. I even got you a little bag. You like that? My daughter-in-law found them." "That was nice of her." "You enjoy them." "Are they like a pecan pie?" "Pee-kahn?" He thought that was hilarious. "Pee-kahn? No, they ain't like a pecan pie." "Okay, well, thanks." I wandered back to my car, got in, and opened one. I bit in. It was amazing. Unbelievably good. Like walnut brownie batter in a crust. I've never had one since, but damn. Anyway, as part of my fantasy of running away to the outer banks, I would like to believe that there's a small community of very old Southern men who all know how to make these delicious pies and, if I ask sweetly enough, they will teach me.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

She knows too much!

12/13/2005 09:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup chopped fresh walnuts
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup dark rum in wine glass
4 Tablespoon melted butter
1 unbaked pie shell

Beat the eggs thoroughly, then add all of the other ingredients and stir until all of the sugar is dissolved. (Drink rum from wine glass). Pour into the pie shell and bake for 40 to 45 minutes in a 375-degree oven until the filling is firm. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

12/13/2005 06:18:00 PM  
Blogger Chaser said...

mmmmmmm....

I've a fried pah version of walnut pie, too, because in the Southern US, nothing is really truly too fattening to fry.

12/13/2005 07:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tell more about your fantasy of moving. Is that the Outer Banks of N.C.?

12/13/2005 08:11:00 PM  
Blogger Aunt B said...

Older Southern Man, I am thoroughly delighted with you. Holy shit.

Capeman, I was moping about wanting to run away to the outer banks of North CArolina yesterday. Just scroll down some. You'll find it.

12/13/2005 09:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, B! Here's seven recipes to try:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/find/results?search=walnut+pie

Don't worry--I'll help you eat the six that don't work out right.

12/13/2005 11:47:00 PM  
Blogger Aunt B said...

Bob, how awesome! I can't wait to try them. And it'll give me a chance to practice my pie crust making skills.

12/14/2005 08:14:00 AM  

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