Desperation pies facts for kids
Desperation pies are special kinds of pies from American cooking. People made them using simple ingredients they usually had at home. These included things like butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. They also used other ingredients that were available when fresh fruits were out of season or too expensive. These pies were much more common before we had refrigerators and canned pie fillings. They were also very popular during tough times, like the Great Depression and when food was rationed during World War II.
The History of Desperation Pies
Why Were These Pies Made?
Long ago, before we had refrigerators, it was hard to keep food fresh. Cooks could only use ingredients that were in season. This meant they couldn't always make fruit pies, like apple pie, if apples weren't growing or cost too much.
Desperation pies became very popular during tough times. For example, during the Great Depression (a time when many people had little money) and during World War II (when many foods were rationed). People had to be clever and use what they had.
Different Kinds of Desperation Pies
Many different kinds of desperation pies were created. For example, Green tomato pie was often made in the 1800s. It tasted a bit like apple pie or mincemeat pie, but used green tomatoes instead of fruit.
Vinegar pies became popular in the Midwestern United States. Cooks used vinegar to add a tangy taste, similar to how lemons would be used. This helped balance the sweetness of the custard filling. Other common pies from the 1800s that used simple pantry items include Shoofly pie, chess pie, and sugar pie. Buttermilk pie is another well-known example of a desperation pie.
