Community Corner

It's National Pie Day!

Where is the best pie nearby? Plus, we have seven tips for sensational pies.

Why do we celebrate National Pie Day on 1/23? Because celebrating the wholesomeness of pie is as simple as 1-2-3.

Yes, that was cheesy, but anything goes on National Pie Day, created by the American Pie Council.

Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks all ate pie, according to the council, but it wasn't until the American revolution that the crust was an edible part of the dessert and not just a container. Feels good to live in the now, doesn't it?

Find out what's happening in Affton-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We want to know where you get pie nearby. Fill us in by commenting below!

And in honor of the holiday, here are seven pie-mazing tips from the American Pie Council:

Find out what's happening in Affton-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pie Making Tips

  1. Read the recipe in its entirety before beginning. Make sure you have all of the ingredients and utensils and make sure that you understand all of the directions. Many mistakes have been made skipping steps.
  2. Cold ingredients are essential to making a great pie crust It even helps to have cold bowls and utensils. . In addition, be sure to chill the dough for at least an hour before rolling it out. Keeping the shortening cold ensures a nice flaky crust!!
  3. Don't overwork or overhandle the dough. Your shortening/butter should be coated with flour mixture, not blended with it. Over-processing causes gluten to form, a substance that toughens the dough. It's even a good idea to have cold hands before handling.
  4. Carefully transfer the dough into your Emile Henry pie dish (the "Official Pie Dish" of the American Pie Council). Fit the dough into the dish (avoid stretching). Trim the dough to 1" inch over hang and tuck it under itself to create a thick rim.
  5. With the index finger on one hand, press the dough against the thumb and forefinger of the opposite hand; continue around the perimeter of the crust and dish following the natural flute of the Emile Henry pie dish.
  6. To ensure that your bottom crust is finished, bake pie in the lower third of the oven. You may have to cover the edges with foil or a crust protector to avoid overbrowning the edges.
  7. Make sure that all of your ingredients are really fresh. Try making fruit pies when the fruits are in season to ensure a wonderful pie.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Affton-Shrewsbury