When dd (yes, that guy over there in the plaid pajamas) asked me to do a post on pie and/or recipes for pies, my initial response was to 'fess up that while I love to cook and bake, I have never succeeded in the quest to make a decent pie crust (no, please, don't send me any hints, advice or products as I no longer seek to discover this particular treasure). 
    
      But then I recalled that long heralded adage - As American As Apple Pie!....

     And now here we are together, twixt Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, seemingly there is no more appropriate time to celebrate our celebrated rights and rites of Freedom of Speech (of which we are renowned).  Let's enjoy our own personal slices of Americana and converse about topics oft as forbidden as some believe the apple was - Politics, Religion and Personal Finances!  The recipes I guarantee to be tasty, but the flavor of the discourse is up those who choose to contribute. 

     The premise of our Constitution and Bill of Rights resides in establishing inherent freedoms. This includes religious beliefs.   No matter whether proclaimed Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew or other conviction, including atheists and agnostics who also engage in their own core belief principles - it is the very mainstay of our country that just as pies, there are a vast array of choices to endorse or not. (I came to understand decades ago that no organized religion should ever be confused with personal faith and beliefs.) 

     We all are to be able to hold own stances privately and publicly without fear.  (For this discussion I choose to ignore those who embrace bigotry or other acts born of hate and personal agendas under the guise of their specific 'religious' doctrine.)

     It's the essence of Americana that we show respect without words or actions that denigrate or disparage another's faith and/or belief.  This is the rationale for our celebrations and acknowledgements of our ability to choose.  However, just as it is (ahem) sacrilegious to tout one pie recipe as the 'best' and/or 'only' good one, it is the antithesis of Americana if we are unable to enjoy our choice without being belittled or attacked. 

    That said, just as a recipe for pie should never be confused with a cake mix, religious dogma should never be part of our government's legislative or policy creed.  This not only is akin to blasphemy of the declaration of our democratic rights, it is divisive and only delivers a bitter aftertaste.  Equality of rights for all, regardless of religion, ethnicity and/or sex (whether gender or persuasion) is dependent upon non-conditional and unrestrained application. 

    We are all lawfully entitled to value our own beliefs and need to do so without 'spitting' on another's selection (or their pie)..    (The best apple pie is one using a blend of different varieties and oft co-mingled with diverse ingredients to create an appealing delight that produces a better, tastier and inviting pie).

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APPLE AMERICANA

    4-5 apples (mix tart with sweet or not, your choice!)  peeled, cored and sliced for pie
    1 Tb. Lemon juice
    2 Tb. Granulated sugar (or Splenda)
    1 Tb. All-purpose flour
    1 Tsp. Ground cinnamon
    16 Oz. Oatmeal Raison Cookie Dough (homemade or pre- made refrigerated roll)

     Preheat oven - 325 degrees and 8" baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking product.  Combine all ingredients but cookie dough, pour into pan.  Crumble dough over top and bake 40-45 minutes until apple tender and dough a bit crisp.  (Terrific warm or cold served over or 'with' rich vanilla ice cream.)

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   But, if our choices were limited to merely apple pies, this would not depict true Americana!  Much like, well, if we only had older white men on the Supreme Court.  Oh sure, while some would debate that a singular black man provides diversity, others would argue it's still all apples, only harvested from different orchards!  (Sigh.)  And while we do have one white woman at the table, many of us equate this as a lack of essential ingredients to make the best pie of choice. 

   Not enough spices in the pantry will only yield a repetitive menu with predictable and tasteless dishes.  All white sugar and no brown will constrain, not truly enrich or deliver, our just desserts.  As a pinch and a dash do not equate a full measure of flavor, neither does only a modicum of societal and political diversity. And yet, too many still believe that plain apple pie is the best and only choice for them and for us.  (Put your wooden spoons down, violence will ne'er produce a sweet treat to be savored.)

   Perhaps those who suffer from the lack of a truly proper palate have never tasted something as sweetly satisfying as:

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RED, WHITE AND BLUE AMERICAN PIE

   1 Pre-made shortbread pie crust (usually with pre-made graham cracker crusts in store)
   1 Large package white chocolate pudding mix
   1 Large container fresh, whole strawberries
   1 Small container fresh blueberries
  
   Make pudding as directed.
   With spoon or knife, spread thin (think of mayo on sandwich) layer on crust bottom
   Rinse and remove stem from strawberries, then cut into halves.  (Keep four (4) whole berries on side for now.) 
   Combine halves with ½ cup of blueberries.
   Spread berries on top of thin pudding layer in crust.
   Top with rest of pudding, garnish with whole strawberries and eight blueberries.

   Chill for one hour.

  (Start to finish - less than twenty minutes prep!)

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   And while most of us can still enjoy the occasional sweet treat, without fear of dire health or economic distress, too many cannot.  We have and will continue to expound on healthcare and our country's current financial crisis, but we also need to ingest a bit of our own slice of reality pie.  Yeah, we're serving a portion of personal responsibility with our treats today.  It may be a bit tough to swallow and the seasoning not to your liking, but it's essential to temper all the sugary morsels with a bit of this humble pie.  C'mon take a bite and chew slowly....

   Many of our healthcare and economic tribulations were caused by such as (oh yeah!) indulging in too much pie.   Millions of us need to acknowledge that...........

    We wanted pie, so we bought pie.  We couldn't afford it, so we charged it. 

    We wanted pie, so we ate pie.  We would worry about sugar and calories and fat later.  We kept eating pie and now we are overweight and have (at the least) high blood sugar with other ailments caused from too much pie.

    We wanted pie, all the pie, so we didn't worry about those who couldn't get pie. 

    We wanted pie, so we didn't look too closely at the bakery where it was made.  We ignored the filth and the rats scurrying around the place - that wasn't our concern because the pie was really good.  And then we got really sick.

     And the list goes on............

    I have considered that perhaps being polite Americans, we didn't speak out because we were too busy chewing all that pie and well, we all know talking with your mouth full is impolite and inconvenient.  However, (gulp) the truth is that most could find the time and energy to eat pie, but not to delve too deeply into the facts such as how the pie was being made or what the ingredients were and where they came from, et al.  Especially as long as it didn't seem to negatively impact us personally.  (And then we found out it wasn't really apples in all that pie but imitations or at best really rotten apples.  But it sure tasted good while it lasted!  Until the acidic reflux reaction started the belching and cramping of all our systems.)

   So now we have more than a little heartburn and indigestion.  But don't blame it on the pie.  Perhaps instead we should slap the hand that reached out not to object, but only to grab the pie; and with the other hand slap the mouth that was used not to protest or yell warnings, but to only savor the pie.  (Figurative slap, no actual physical pain to be meted as it may hamper our ability to enjoy our treats!)

   And now it's your turn to contribute to the conversation and recipes.

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Until then, the ultimate American Pizza Pie (heh heh)........

Chocolate Lover's Pizza

2 ½ Cups graham cracker crumbs
2/3 cup Melted butter (not margarine - only butter)
½ Cup granulated sugar (or Splenda)
19 oz. (give or take oz.) of real chocolate such as Dove candies or other
½ Cup chopped pecans or walnuts
¼ Cup coarsely grated white chocolate

Combine crumbs, butter and sugar - Grease pizza pan with (more) butter.  Press crumb mixture on pan and bake at 375 approx 8 minutes (until lightly browned).

Top with dark (or milk) chocolate, bake for 2-3 minutes until chocolate softened.

Spread choc evenly over 'pizza crust', sprinkle with nuts then grated white chocolate.

Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes, chill approx 90 minutes or more until set.

Use pizza cutter and cut into slices.  Serve.
        
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                  Warning:  One small piece of the pie usually is never enough for most.     

    (That scamp dd confessed he had already advised TheraP., the lady he holds in the highest of esteem, that he was sure I would succumb to his plea.   His next post may be entitled, 'Let Them Eat Cake'.)