Penelope’s Pie Shop 3
For the previous editions of Penelope’s Pie Shop, look under Neverending stories at the top of this site!
And remember Friday, the winner of the personalized children’s book will be announced!
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
Two hours later, Meg sat alone in the pie shop. Propped behind the counter on a stool, she was surrounded by pastries, sheet pans of cookings and dozens of rolling pins that hung from the wall like artwork.
And everywhere she looked, all she saw was pie.
There were illustrated drawings of pies on the brightly painted walls. There were stacks of pies in refrigerated cases, topped with cream and chocolate and nuts and meringue that looked softer than the thinnest cloud. Wooden shelving units propped by the front counter held dozens of golden-baked pies; some with lattice crusts, others with crumb or thick pastry. Behind her, refrigerators held dozens of meat pies–shepard’s pie, chicken pot pie and mincemeat. There were small hand pies stuffed with fruit and nuts, tiny pies whipped from peanut butter fluff and pies laced with butterscotch chips on top.
And Meg had no idea how to make a single one. She had no clue how to create a pie to impress Penelope. Leaning over, she searched for the apple pie with the snickerdoodle crust. She had already eaten half of it. Another piece wouldn’t hurt.
The bell over the door jingled and a old lady crept in. A kerchief was knotted over her snow white hair and she wore a thin housedress over her tiny frame that had obviously been worn for many years. Shuffling toward the counter in her clunky black shoes, she peered up at Meg with bright green eyes.
“Excuse me,” she whispered. “I’d like a pie.”
“What kind of pie?” Meg asked brightly. She smiled and leaned toward the cute old woman.
“Why, I have no idea,” the old woman said, her eyes wide. “That’s why I came to you. You are the expert on pies.”
“Oh, no, not me,” Meg replied quickly. “I just work here.”
The old woman blinked. “You don’t know what kind of pie I need?”
“Well, what is the pie for?” Meg replied. “Is it for a occasion of some sort?”
“Wednesday,” the old woman replied.
“Excuse me?” Meg asked. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“The pie is for Wednesday,” the old woman repeated. “After all, is there anything worth celebrating more than Wednesday?”
“No, I suppose not,” Meg replied. She wrinkled her forehead and chewed on her lip. “Well do you like rich, creamy pies or fruit pies for Wednesday?”
The old woman shrugged. “I can’t decide. That’s why I came to you.” Her green eyes twinkled. Meg could have sworn she was laughing at her, except the room was silent.
Meg sighed. “Of course.” Gnawing on her lower lip, she stared at the pies scattered among the cases. She eyed the meringues, peered at the fruit pies and peeked in on the meat pies in the fridge. Finally, she walked to the fridge and pulled out a pie.
“Try this one,” she said, handing it to the old woman. The old woman looked down at the pie, then up at Meg.
“What is it?” she asked, her green eyes wide with curiosity.
“It’s called Dixie Pie,” Meg replied. “It’s got raisins, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, chopped nuts and coconut. It’s really good. It’s kind of like pecan pie.”
The old woman beamed, revealing bright pink gums and very few teeth. “Why that’s perfect, dearie!” she cooed. “How did you ever know?”
“I have no idea,” Meg replied truthfully. She stepped back behind the counter as the woman fiddled with her large lime-green purse and pulled out a handful of bills.
“So tell me, dearie, which pies did you make?” the old woman asked as Meg counted her change.
“I didn’t make any,” Meg replied. “I’ve never made a pie before. I have to make one soon to get the job here on a permanet basis, and I have no idea what to do.”
“It’s all in the crust,” the old woman advised. “It’s all in the crust. Just ask the cookbooks! They’ll tell you.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Meg said, smiling at the older woman. She placed the woman’s pie in a box and sealed it shut with a brightly colored sticker that read, “Penelope’s Pie Shop”. “Thank you! Come again!”
“I sure will,” the older woman replied. “It’ll be Thursday tomorrow. Has one ever seen a day worth celebrating more than Thursday?” Before Meg could reply, the old woman was scuttling down the sidewalk with her nose pressed to the pie box.
Meg grinned and plopped back on her stool. Now surrounded by just the pies, all her attention was on how to make one. “Ask the cookbooks,” she muttered to herself. “Of course! I’ll just follow a recipe.”
Hopping off her stool, she hurried into the kitchen. As soon as the door swung open, she gasped.
To be continued….
Dixie Pie from Taste of Home Baking Classics
*Photo from Taste of Home site
Yields: 2 Pies at 6-8 servings each
- Pastry for two single-crust pies (9 inches)
- 1-1/2 cups raisins
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup Domino® or C&H® Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
- 1 cup Domino® or C&H® Pure Cane Dark Brown Sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 to 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- Whipped topping and additional chopped nuts, optional.
Directions:
Line two 9-in. pie plates with pastry. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges. Line crusts with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes. Discard foil. Cool on wire racks.
Place raisins in a saucepan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and cinnamon until blended.
Drain raisins. Stir the raisins, nuts and coconut into creamed mixture (mixture will appear curdled). Pour into the crusts.
Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until set. Cool on wire racks. Garnish with whipped topping and nuts if desired.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have a tasty recipe re-do! Then Friday we have a new Twirl and the giveaway winner! Sunday, we have our second creative woman featured–the fabulous Francesca from Three Bay Chicks! Stay tuned!
March 18th, 2009 at 2:04 am
All of those pie pics are making me hungry – the Dixie pie sounds delicious.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:21 am
Great story! Wednesday is worth celebrating here at our house…I’m ovulating…LOL! What kind of pie would you make for that?
March 18th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Awesome story!! I can’t wait to read more.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:51 am
I love this story!!! Can’t wait for the next installment!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I just know I’m gaining weight by reading this!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:25 am
This pie sounds fantastic! I have something for you on my blog.
March 18th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Now that is a pie I think I will definitely want to try making! Sounds delicious and I’ll bet it makes the kitchen smell so good too!!
March 18th, 2009 at 5:20 am
MMM Pie! Yummy Yummy in my Tummy!
March 18th, 2009 at 5:27 am
ohh. that pie sounds like the perfect way to celebrate a wednesday
March 18th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Oh my, look at all those pies, each on looking better than the other! Now I want some
March 18th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Make the pie madness stop. Everyday I want pie… I am holding you responsible.
Not really, love pie and your blog.
March 18th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Pie! I miss pie…… but those 55 lbs I have lost are well worth the deprivation — I think…
Love your new place — it’s soooo pretty and suits you so well!
March 18th, 2009 at 6:06 am
Of course! What is more worth celebrating than Wednesday, unless it’s Thursday?
March 18th, 2009 at 6:19 am
I love this story and I think the Dixie Pie sounds delicious. I might need to give it a test run this weekend!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Those pies look SOOOOOO good!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:07 am
I’ve never had a Dixie Pie before but it sounds fantastic. Another cute installment – what kind of pie will Meg make?
March 18th, 2009 at 7:25 am
She gasped…at what? Oh okay I’ll be back. Winks!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Ohh my gosh that sounds good and soo sweet!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Another wonderful installment on your story Duckie! I love it, and that pie looks delish! I must try it sometime! Love you loads sweet friend! XXOO
March 18th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Are you going to give us a recipe for that snickerdoodle pie crust? I’d probably like pie a lot more if they had the snickerdoodle crust.
~ingrid
March 18th, 2009 at 7:52 am
I can’t wait to see what Meg saw! Cute story and now I really need some pie…
March 18th, 2009 at 7:57 am
I’m really liking this story.
Question: Did you make all of those pies in the first pic just for the story, or did you get the picture from the Internet?
Just curious…
March 18th, 2009 at 7:58 am
I forgot to put my blog URL.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Note to self: do not visit this blog until you’ve eaten breakfast.
THE COOKBOOKS TALK, DON’T THEY?!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I’ve never heard of a Dixie pie before. I want one now!!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:51 am
that was so lovely – and those little pies – so adorable!!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Mmm, I want pie.
It is all in the crust, and as for the talking cookbooks.. do you think I should sleep with one under my pillow? You know, an important one – like The Pie and Pastry Bible?
March 18th, 2009 at 10:05 am
It’s Wednesday! I’m must have pie. I need a pie to celebrate Wednesday.
Ooh…according to your story I can celebrate with pie tomorrow too! So much for Arthur Dent complaining that he could never get the hang of Thursdays!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Never heard of Dixie Pie but I would be happy to try it!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Dixie pie sounds right up my alley!
March 18th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Dixie Pie? I want it!
March 18th, 2009 at 11:22 am
A story about pie? Have I mentioned how much I love you?!
March 18th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I like the idea of celebrating Wednesday with a wonderful piece of pie!
March 18th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Now I really, really, really want some pie.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Thanks for stopping by. Those pies look delicious!
March 18th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Dixie pie is a wonderful way to celebrate Wednesday! Love the story
March 18th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I’ve never heard of a Dixie Pie before! It sounds superb! The perfect pie for a Wednesday!
I really love this story – can’t wait to hear more!
March 18th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Everytime I read this story I want to bake a pie!! Lol! Oh hey, I have to tell you…I had a dream about you last night. Isn’t that CRAZY!? I dreamt you came to visit me in Oregon…but that you and Ben had found a wonderful BBQ/steak restaurant that you HAD to visit and said you would visit me later and you took off. LOLOL!!!
March 18th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
It really is all in the crust for me! Well I guess you do need a great inside too! But I love a good crust. My son’s uneatened crust definitely doesn’t go to waste. Maybe to waist, but certinaly not to waste.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
THE PIES SOUND YUMMY! SADLY, I HAVE NONE MADE…BROWNIES, PERHAPS??!
March 18th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Just look at all those delicious tempting little pies! They all look so good, I want to to take a nice juicy bite! I love a good crust too. Crust is good. Pie Wednesday, yay!
March 18th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Just look at all those delicious tempting little pies! They all look so good, I want to to take a nice juicy bite! I love a good crust too. Crust is good. Pie Wednesday, yay!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
This cute little pie story is fun!
March 18th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
That dixie pie sounds fabulous! Must..go…find…some…pie….
March 18th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I’m really diggin this story friend. And I really like that there are pictures of pie to accompany it. You may turn me into a pie lover yet!
March 18th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
As usual, I can’t wait to read more. That pie sounded good to me… I can’t have pie, I am training again for a race. CANNOT GAIN WEIGHT!!!
March 18th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
OHH now I want pie!
March 18th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Wahhhhh! This post reminds me of “Pushing Daisies.” How I loved that show (and now…canceled?! The terror.)
You simply AWE at your talent to WRITE and pull together a wicked recipe for your story. WOW!
March 18th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Dixie Pie looks and sounds yum, I’d leave out the cinnamon though, I can’t stand the stuff.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Your blog is dangerous. I wasn’t even thinking about pie, and now… I’m like dying for some!! This isn’t the first time this has happened over here on the pond (with pie too!)
March 18th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I’ve just had breakfast… All these tasty cakes would have been so delicious with the cappuccino!
March 19th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Congrats on being featured blogger at Little Miss Sunshine’s flip flop find!
March 19th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Ummmmmm, pies. I’m hungry now xx
March 19th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I am going to jump up and down and clap my hands if there are talking cookbooks in this story!!!
May 24th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thanks for the review!