Apparently I cannot tell you that I made a Derby pie in honor of the Kentucky Derby as there is some controversy over who has the right to call their pie a Derby pie. So I will just say that I made a lovely pie with which to celebrate the day. My inspiration for this pie comes from that famous friend of pie, Lady Helen, who first introduced me to an actual Derby pie last year in Kentucky. Once I realized that the Derby was today I started looking for recipes online and found a few that looked okay, but not great. Without prompting however, Mom sent me a recipe that looked much better than any I had found, most especially because instead of corn syrup, it called for bourbon. How well does my Mom know me that she knew I was thinking about Derby pie?
If you've never had a derby pie, err, excuse me, "thoroughbred pie," it is like a cross between a pie and a chocolate chip cookie. Unlike a fruit pie, it feels too rich to eat for breakfast; I think the ideal way to eat this is warmed slightly, with real whipped cream and a cup of strong coffee. I've been dreaming about bourbon whipped cream too - does that exist? Let's get right on that, shall we? I'm posting pictures of the pie pre- and post-baking so that you can see how the filling resembles chocolate chip cookie dough. When baked, it is a slightly gooier than a chocolate chip cookie, and slightly less sticky and chocolaty than a fudge pecan pie. Hmmm, I have a sudden desire to create a wall chart to sort out the 
continuum of chocolate nut pies. It's a special day not just because there is a seasonally appropriate pie, but because today is the first day that I used both levels of my double-decker pie basket at once!! Behold pictures of basket with "thoroughbred pie" on bottom and spinach pie on top. If you've visited me or eaten dinner at my house anytime from June 2005 to the present, there's a 50/50 chance I made you a spinach pie. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit. But hey, I finally found a new recipe! And I think I'll go back to the old. This one was okay, but when served at room temperature, the ricotta was a little too gritty. It was a lovely day for a daytrip and picnic here in central Virginia; please see picture of "thoroughbred pie" at Thomas Jefferson's country home, Poplar Forest. 
3 comments:
Yum!! I like the sound of something that's like a chocolate chip cookie. Now I'm hoping we get a trademark case about Derby Pie. I'm sure we would need to sample the products.
hmmm, I'd never considered it before, but maybe I can work my way up to being an expert witness at pie trials. I think that "internationally recognized pie-taster" would sound lovely with my name.
i NEED a "derby pie." it sounds divine. any recipe that substitutes bourbon for corn syrup is a winner in my book. more products should make that switch...
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