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Title: Sweety Pies: An Uncommon Collection of Womanish Observations, with Pie
ISBN: 1561588482
Author:
Patty Pinner
Publicate Date: 2007-09-18
Publish: 2007-09-18
List Price: $23.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $10.50
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $10.50
Amazon Merchant Price: $15.64
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| Customer Review: |
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1: A mouthwatering combination of memoirs and great Southern pies
Patty Pinner, author of the phenomenal Sweets: Soul Food Desserts & Memories, grew up in a large African-American family that had relocated to Michigan from the South. In Sweety Pies, she collects 70 recipes for various kinds of pies, including fruit, nut, cereal, cream and custard, sweet vegetable, and meringue. Like any good cook, she begins with the basics: an in-depth primer on basic pie crusts with step-by-step instructions for single and double pie crusts, sweet tart crust, how to prebake your pie crust, and a detailed guide (complete with photographs) on decorative crimped edges (flagged edge, pinched, rope, scalloped, lattice top) and finishing your pie (polished top and pie toppers).
But Patty's heartwarming stories of the lives behind the pie recipes nearly upstages the cookbook function; lavishly illustrated with vintage black-and-white photos, the sassy, classy women in Patty's young life growing up in Saginaw dominate the pages with a take-no-nonsense attitude, from a jilted wife who one-ups her man by attracting interest from other men until her husband begs to come home, to the glamorous lives of some of her neighbors like Miss Dezarae in her diamonds and mink coats, to her Mama's own quiet strength and legendary talent in the kitchen. The pie recipes are almost an afterthought from the depths of these snapshots in time.
The pie recipes are simple and clearly explained, although the recipe format is a little unorthodox since the memoirs take center stage (the recipes wrap along the bottom of the memoirs). Sure, there are common recipes such as strawberry rhubarb, apple pie, pecan pie, and sweet potato, but there are some fascinating recipes born of thriftiness, such as Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes pies, white potato pie (basically, mashed potatoes), Orange Tang pie, and a navy bean custard pie. There are also some divine and unexpected pairings such as the coconut pumpkin, apple meringue, and peanut butter cream that are revelations.
The recipes call for simple, normal household ingredients, so you won't find yourself running off to specialty stores or health food stores trying to track down rarities as with some cookbooks. This is soul food at its best: a warm, sugary blend of fruit, sugar, gossip, and most of all, love, that is a heartwarming gift for any young woman in your life, especially those who are starting out in their own kitchens and looking for a little friendly guidance.
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2: MORE, MORE, MORE!!
This book is fantastic...I've just finished reading it cover to cover and drooling over all the pies...can't wait to get into the kitchen and start baking! While the recipes are terrific what makes this book ever so special is the "womanish" advice and the wonderful stories and anecdotes!! I've just ordered Patty's other book "Sweets: A Collection of Soul Food Desserts and Memories" and can't wait to sit down and read it as well! I surely hope these won't be the only two books written by Patty Pinner...please give us more!
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3: written in 2007 or 1950?
I love to read cookbooks cover to cover, and I looked forward to enjoying this one. I loved the idea of paying homage to friends, family and neighborhood characters through stories and recipes.
I'm not sure who the intended audience for this book is, but it is not me or anyone I know. It is certainly not a single girl in the city! There are references to women spending the whole day in housecoats and slippers - even in current times. That seems disrespectful to stay at home moms and not at all based in any reality with which I am familar.
The book's focus is on cooking to attracting and keeping a man. I cook because I like to, and to celebrate friends, colleagues, and family - not as bait. The stories about the length that women go to in order to please their husbands was disturbing (Benita didn't let her husband see her without her hair done and makeup applied in 27 years? Does that sound like a relationship to emulate?).
To be fair, the book contains many beautiful color photos (but not for every pie recipe). It is organized by chapters on types of pie (berry, cereal, cream & custard, fruit, nut & sweet vegetable, and meringue).
If you consider yourself a modern woman, I recommend skipping this book - or at least perusing it in a library or bookstore before buying it unseen on Amazon.
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4: Love the book, love the pies, love the stories!!!
I Love Southern Cooking
I have purchased many cookbooks and I always try to improve on existing recipes. The stories in this book are wonderful and heartfelt. I tried the Peach Cobbler and it was wonderful, much better than mine own. The crust was the best I ever ate or tried to cook. I have cook pie crust in the past that were a horrible. I cooked my husband's favorite pie, Rhubard Pie and I got Star status after the first bite. The book reminds me of my own family experiences and of love ones who are now deceased.
I also bought her other book, "Sweets," best Carmel Cake, ever.
Thank you Patty Pinner.
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5: Excellent Pies and Advice
Bought the book for my wife and she loves it - she loves the anecdotes and the recipes as well.
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