Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: January 23rd, 2022.Today is National Pie Day and if we didn’t have Brownies David made me last night then I would have had David pick up a Apple Pie and Cool Whip when he was at the Grocery Store earlier this morning so we could celebrate today.
- In 1986 National Pie Day was first celebrated by the American Pie Council to commemorate Crisco’s 75th Anniversary of “serving foods to families everywhere.”
- The first Pies appeared around 9500 BC.
- Meat Pies with fillings such as Steak, Cheese, Steak Kidney, Minced Beef, Chicken and Mushroom are popular in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand as take-away snacks
- Pot Pies with a Flaky Crust and bottom are also a popular American dish, typically with a filling of Meat (particularly Beef, Chicken or Turkey), Gravy, and Mixed Vegetables (Potatoes, Carrots and Peas).
- Fruit Pies may be served with a scoop of Ice Cream, a style known in North America as Pie à la Mode.
Sponsored by the American Pie Council (yes, that’s a real thing!), National Pie Day lets us enjoy our favorite desserts guilt-free. While celebrating a National Holiday!
While Pie exists in some form all over the World, the United States has an inextricable relationship with Pie. From Don McLean’s epic song “American Pie” to expressions like “as American as apple pie,” our Country embraces Pie. Apple Pie in particular as a symbol of National pride.
Preheat your oven or visit your Bakery, grab a slice of your favorite Pie, and celebrate the delicious pleasures of Pie.
WHEN IS NATIONAL PIE DAY 2022?
You should celebrate Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Pumpkin, and all of your favorite flavors of America’s favorite dessert on National Pie Day which falls on January 23rd. Traditional Fruit Pies, Savory Pies, or Creams Pies used for comedy, every Pie is celebrated on this Holiday.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL PIE DAY
One of the oldest prepared foods, Pie shows up in written recipes dating back as far as the ancient Romans. The first known Pie recipe was for a Rye-Crusted Goat Cheese and Honey Pie. The Romans made Pies with a variety of Meats, Seafood, and Fruit, and developed a dense Pie called Placenta, which is similar to Cheesecake. At sumptuous Roman feasts, Pie played a role in several courses.
Until recently, Pie Crust was mostly used as a vehicle for filling. Unlike many of today’s Buttery Crusts, early Pie Custs often didn’t get eaten at all. The Crust acted as a container to keep the Meat moist and prevent it from burning.
Pies first appeared in England in the 12th Century, still mostly filled with Meat. The dubious origin of Pie fillings gave rise to jokes and horror stories, including the penny dreadful that would become “Sweeney Todd.”
When the Puritans and other English settlers fled for the New World, they took Pie with them. But although no American Thanksgiving table is complete without Pumpkin and Pecan Pies, Sweet Pies didn’t make an appearance at the so-called “First Thanksgiving” and Pumpkin Pie didn’t become popular until the 1800s. Today, Sweet Pies overwhelmingly outsell savory Pies, and Pumpkin Pie is a fixture of the Thanksgiving meal.
Not to be confused with National Pi Day, National Pie Day has nothing to do with math and everything to do with the sweet American treat. Created in the 1970s by Charlie Papazian who conveniently placed the Holiday on his birthday, National Pie Day encourages us all to take a break and have a slice of Pie.
NATIONAL PIE DAY TRADITIONS
Celebrating National Pie Day is as easy as eating a Pie or going all-out and hosting Pie-eating contests. Pie is an all-American indulgence. Every year people enthusiastically bake Pies, trying new flavors, exchanging recipes, and giving Pies to loved ones. The American Pie Council (APC) encourages sharing your Pie of the day on Social Media with the hashtag #NationalPieDay
The food marketing professionals get to work which means Restaurants have promotions or special menu additions to celebrate National Pie Day and by the end of the Holiday, the tradition is to have as much pie as you can.
NATIONAL PIE DAY ACTIVITIES
- Naturally, the best way to celebrate National Pie Day is to eat a slice of your favorite Pie. Or try a new flavor of Pie.
- Baking a Pie can be as easy as, well, Pie. Look up a recipe online or ask a family member to share a favorite Pie recipe.
- Many organizations hold Pie baking contests. If you’re feeling proud of your baking skills, try showing your baking skills off at your local bake-off.
5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PIE
- Though we know that “the day the music died” refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and others, Don McLean has remained famously mum about the meaning of the song’s other enigmatic lyrics.
- Laurel & Hardy’s 1927 film The Battle of the Century featured a Pie fight that used around 4,000 Pies.
- In a 2008 survey, 40% of respondents agreed that Carol Brady, of all TV moms, would make the best pie.
- Johnny Depp gave a memorable performance in Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd as the “demon barber of Fleet Street” who murders his clients so his neighbor can bake them into Pies.
- After the success of the show Breaking Bad, a few fans recreated a memorable scene by throwing Pizza onto the roof of the house where it was filmed. Unfortunately, the current owners didn’t appreciate the reenactment and installed a fence to keep overzealous groupies at bay.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL PIE DAY
- No one’s saying you should eat Pie for breakfast too often, but on this Holiday, we can forget the guilt. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, add a scoop of Ice Cream to your Pie.
- With infinite ingredient possibilities and baking styles, there’s a Pie out there for everyone.
- Even though we celebrate National Pie Day in January, this Holiday reminds us of the lazy days of Summer.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL RHUBARB PIE DAY
Rhubarb is the name of the fleshy stalks of plants from the Rheum genus. While no one knows the specific origin of the Rhubarb Plant, we know that this plant was popular in Europe before the 18th Century, when it was used largely for Medicinal purposes. There are also traces of Rhubarb dating back to at least 2700 B.C. in China, Tibet, Mongolia, and surrounding regions.
Rhubarb is one of those tricky plants whose identity as a Vegetable or Fruit is controversial. Botanically, Rhubarb is a Vegetable, but in culinary circles, Rhubarb is used as a Fruit. In 1947 though, a New York court officially ruled Rhubarb as a Fruit since that was what Americans primarily used Rhubarb as. Businesses that imported Rhubarb celebrated this declaration because they paid less tax if Rhubarb was considered a Fruit rather than a Vegetable.
In 1772, U.S. President Benjamin Franklin sent Rhubarb Seeds from Scotland to John Bartram, a friend of his who was a Botanist in Pennsylvania. Rhubarb became more popular in 1837 when a sweeter variety called Victoria Rhubarb was introduced. Because Rhubarb needed a lot of Sugar to offset its tartness, Rhubarb didn’t spread as much until Sugar prices started dropping.
We don’t know who exactly came up with the brilliant idea to make Pies out of Rhubarbs, but we are eternally thankful to them. Today, Rhubarb Pies are a traditional dessert in the U.S. In the words of John Cleese in the ‘Rhubarb Tart Song,’ “I want another slice of Rhubarb Tart. I want another lovely slice. I’m not disparaging the Blueberry Pie. But Rhubarb Tart is oh so very nice. A Rhubarb what? A Rhubarb Tart! A whatbarb Tart? A Rhubarb Tart!”
LET”S CELEBRATE NATIONAL RHUBARB PIE DAY
- Even if you’re not a Master Chef, you can celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day by trying your hand in the kitchen. Pick a Rhubarb Pie recipe. Then reward yourself with a taste of your very own Rhubarb Pie.
- Who says Rhubarb has to be a dessert? Celebrate National Rhubarb Pie Day by eating Rhubarb Pie whenever you want.
- Sing the “Rhubarb Tart Song” that is sure to put a smile on your face. It’s the perfect family fun to have before digging into your Pie dessert.
5 FACTS ABOUT RHUBARB
- Even though Rhubarb is generally bitter, when the stalks of Rhubarb are red, it has a sweeter taste.
- It’s rarely used in modern lingo, but Rhubarb can mean a heated argument or dispute, especially in New York baseball circles.
- The Romans called anyone who ate Rhubarb a barbarian.
- The leaves attached to the Rhubarb stalk are very poisonous. If you plant your Rhubarb yourself, make sure to cut off all the leaves.
- In 1896, S.P. Merman won first prize at the Douglas County Fair for his Rhubarb Wine. Then in 1901, the Omaha Daily Bee proclaimed that Rhubarb makes the most delicious Wine.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL RHUBARB PIE DAY
- What can be more fun for the family than sharing a slice of Rhubarb Pie fresh from the oven? You can even take the fun a step further by baking your Pie together as a family.
- One of the things that makes Rhubarb Pie so amazing is its mix of sharp tart and delicious sweetness. But somehow, that mixture forms a wonderful tangy balance that we didn’t know was possible. Maybe the world needs a little sweetness, a little Tart. Then, we can find the delicious balance that is rhubarb pie.
- We don’t need an excuse to stuff our faces but having a reason sure doesn’t hurt. On National Rhubarb Pie Day, we get to stuff our faces with all the Rhubarb Pie we can get our hands on.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
