I have been looking at pics of American pies and they are just so much better looking than ours! I need to know the secret to these pies!
So, I really need to take a trip across the pond to experience them first hand. I expect to be greeted at the airport with plenty of pie throwers and a bottle of wine.

Does anyone have a good recipe for the American style pie crust? And a really thick but sloppy filling? I think I need to have a go at making some before I go booking a flight!

Jessie xxx

www.messy-jessie.co.uk
www.dirtyflirtyfeet.co.uk

People tend to swear by

1) Cool Whip, not available in the UK (although recipes for ersatz versions are available online)

2) Sara Lee cream pies, also apparently unavailable in the UK

I'd certainly like to know what the next best thing is. Preferably something that doesn't need too much preparation (say, opening the box it comes in)

Jessie,
I'm so glad you're reaching out. It's a minor tragedy that the UK has probably the most pie-loving folks per capita yet some of the most disappointing pies around. The perfect pie is a matter of personal preference, of course. Hopefully we can get you started on the path to your own "perfect pie".

You may be referring to graham cracker crust as "american style". It's damn simple, just crush up graham crackers, wet with melted butter, and press into your pie tin.

http://southernfood.about.com/cs/pierecipes/ht/graham_crust.htm

Then there's the more standard crust, which I'm sure they have in the UK. It's more like the dough from a pot pie or pastie...

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/perfect_pie_crust/

As for fillings, fat and sugar are your friends. Fat for substance and sugar for sticky. UK pies always strike me as too runny, probably due to the use of real whipped cream. What I like best is the big, sticky, fluffy pies you see in so many of the S. American soaps and game shows. I'm certain there's all sorts of whipped up fat and sugar in those, with only a hint of dairy. I've yet to find the perfect recipe for that, but am certain the ingredients are readily available throughout the civilized world.

Good luck!

Hey, Jessie! Fly into LAX and I will be delighted to give you the benefit of my 30 years of pie experience! BTW....red or white wine?

Why did I see this and think.....

".... there was this one time, at band camp...."

The pic below is the sort of pie I'm after...

Thanks Piesyespies; I'll have a look at those. I do like cooking so I don't mind trying stuff out!

It's red wine please!!

Jessie xxx
www.messy-jessie.co.uk
www.dirtyflirtyfeet.co.uk

(4)

Jessica,

I could easliy get you a few......we are also spoiled with a lot of pre-made crusts, graham cracker and oreo crusts that make great contrasts with certain fillings, break up, plop and fall off nicely.

We also have many an good old fashioned bakery in themetro NY City/NJ that are good to buy from or copy as well.

Would love to see you come to NY city to research this.

regards,

Ed

And after your trip to New York, you must visit the North Shore and western suburbs of Chicago.

The bakeries are to die for!

Red wine, you say?

Hi Jessie, that's not really a pie...it's shaving cream in a $1.00 graham cracker crust. You deserve better.

While we're on the subject of pies... there use to be a cream pie called "Pet-Ritz" or something like that. Came in chocolate cream, banana cream, coconut cream and neopolitan. It was my favorite to play in. Can't seem to find it anymore. Anyone know if it's still being made. I see Pet-Ritz has been purchased by Pillsbury, and I'm worried they discontinued the cream pie line. I've seen online something called McCain pie in Canada that looks pretty close. Can that be purchased anywhere in the states?

if your going to take a trip over to the states, i would love to see someone like rich get his hands on you. that would be one heck of a video!!!

Yes it would.

--Rich

The graham cracker crusts are really just crushed up crackers (any type really would suffice if you don't have actual graham crackers.. i.e. nilla wafers, or oreos) and butter mixed up then spread in a pie tin.

The sticky/gooieness you're looking for is from not using custard. Often, unless frozen, custard is too heavy and doesn't have enough air in in. Thus, it pours more than sticks.

Recently I started using heavy creme to make my own whipped creme. This would be a huge pain in the ass for your 315 pies or whatever you're needing. But for 5-10 it's pretty easy. The air being mixed (while being whipped) is what gives the cream the fluffyness.

I really apprecaite all the help on quest for the 'perfect pie' (quickly just right that down as a sketch idea!). And although it's true that we all have our own idea of what perfect is, I think we all know a good pie from a very good pie! We are after all the experts!

Yeah, I would love to get one of Rich's pies! They are the kind I'm after! I think I 'll have to do some sort of US tour..... Make a documentary on my serach for my perfect pie!

Jessie xxx
www.messy-jessie.co.uk
www.dirtyflirtyfeet.co.uk

cake batter topped with cake frosting/marshmellow fluff makes a cheap, almost bakery quality pie. Cool Whip, buttercream, pudding, they just don't compare.

if you ever do your US tour, be sure to stop by ohio. my preference is "real" bakery type cream pies....banana cream, chocolate cream, coconut cream and so on. they are a little on the costly side, but SO worth it to me. you can check them out at my site, www.piedladies.com. (shameless plug)

Greeted by piethrowers at the airport would really get the party started with airport security! lol but a us tour would be an awesome idea jessie, stop up in michigan sometime!

I love real bakery pies, but ya gotta be careful with some of the heavier ones! You start winding up for the throw with something like a french silk pie and that'll leave a bump on your nose for sure.

I think you should come to Canada.
You can be met at Toronto airport and greeted as requested.

we have these for sale.. they come frozen... ''thaw and serve''
and frequently go on sale for $1.
Choco, coconut and banana creme...

http://www.epiceriedirect.com/lookproduct.php?idpro=7009

Think of all the fun you could have...

And then afterwards, they can film a pie video