Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie (or my mom's not-so-original recipe) - You Want Pie with That?

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Food Librarian - Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Libby's Famous (and good enough for my family) Pumpkin Pie

Okay, my brain synapses aren't snapping. For this month's You Want Pie with That? theme, Natalie of Oven Love decided on Family Favorite Pies. Here are the full directions:

Everyone's family has traditions, including favorite desserts. What's your family favorite? Is it your mom's brownies, your grandmother's banana pudding, your brother's famous chocolate chip cookies? Whatever that favorite dessert is, take it and turn it into a pie! If it already is a pie, make the recipe with your own special twist. If you're feeling extra energized and willing to divulge family secrets, include the original recipe!

Dude, I only saw the logo and thought I needed to bake a family recipe, not use one as a base for a creative pie! Okay, so...please play along with the voices in my head and pretend the theme is an actual family pie recipe.

This is where we have some problems. My family doesn't make pie! My mom came from Okinawa, Japan in 1964 and didn't grow up with pie. What she did do was plant rice (as she told me over and over again). She said, "I used to be so good at planting rice. One by one. One stalk at a time. You have to be very patient..." Then she looks at me with the thought, "My impatient daughter could never plant rice. Good thing I came to America."

So, I may not be able to squat for hours in a muddy field, but I still got the rice planting short legs with thunder thighs...Oh, generations of peasant ancestors give me my 5'2" frame! :)

1972 Family
I'm in the red dress and my mom is holding me. We're in the West Adams area of Los Angeles at my paternal grandparent's house (1972).

Back to my mom. I only remember her making one pie. It was pumpkin pie...and it was from the Libby Pumpkin Pie can.

Food Librarian - Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie Food Librarian - Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Nothing like a pie made from the freezer (the crust), two cans (pumpkin and evaporated milk), sugar, spices and eggs! (Find the recipe on the back of the can or here.)

Food Librarian - Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
There is one memory I have though...one Thanksgiving or Christmas she made the filling and popped it into the frozen crust. I totally remember her saying, "Oh no! I forgot the eggs!" Not one to waste anything (that would be mottainai), she yanked open the oven, poured the filling back into her green Tupperware bowl (yes, that above bowl is an original) and mixed in the eggs.

Food Librarian - Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Just like mom used to make..

Recipe: Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie
Be sure to check out the other You Want Pie with That? bakers!!
Pin It!

19 comments:

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Do you have to dress like that lady in the yellow apron to be a part of this group?

West Adams in the hizzouse!!

Unknown said... [Reply to comment]

Awesome post! I love hearing about people's families.

Pearl said... [Reply to comment]

that is so adorable. YOU were such a beautiful baby! my goodness!

Esi said... [Reply to comment]

You were the cutest baby! Lol, I love your "interpretation" of the challenge. I probably would have done the same thing. Immigrants from Ghana don't make pie either.

Sara said... [Reply to comment]

Yum! Sometimes those recipes from cans and boxes are the best. :)

alice said... [Reply to comment]

How adorable you are in your red dress!
My mom always made the pumpkin pie from the Libby's can too, as do I. You just can't mess with perfection ;)

eatme_delicious said... [Reply to comment]

Haha love the stories about your mom! Nothing wrong with recipes from cans and prepackaged stuff because that stuff can be really yummy too!

Caroline said... [Reply to comment]

hehe, I still use the recipe from the can when I make pumpkin pie, it's a classic!
You look so adorable in that baby pic. Hope you and your mom enjoy this weekend.

Cristine said... [Reply to comment]

What a cute family picture! And you can't go wrong with pumpkin pie! YUM!

Jessica said... [Reply to comment]

What an awesome post -- I just love it! Your mom sounds fabulous.

Gina said... [Reply to comment]

One of my favorite posts! Thanks so much for sharing the photo of your family -- your mom looks so mod!!

And this would totally qualify you as a midwesterner. My mom did make pies from scratch as well, but for thanksgiving, we always had pumpkin pie from the can!

Anonymous said... [Reply to comment]

Great family picture! My mother never baked a pie, so you are one up on me.

Madam Chow said... [Reply to comment]

I think this is such a sweet post. Love the pie, and love the pics of your family.

Linda said... [Reply to comment]

Mary, I love this post! At least there was some prep work with your mom's pie ---I give your mom huge props for that!

My mom's pumpkin pie was "made" straight from the freezer courtesy of Mrs. Smiths.

ps... adorable family picture!:)

Jacque said... [Reply to comment]

Aaaah, what a sweet post. Love the family picture!

Your pie looks delicous! It's hard to beat a piece of pumpkine pie.

suz said... [Reply to comment]

What a great story! At least your mom tried to bake. My mom went to the bakery of the local grocery store and just picked one up. Ahhh mothers. The ones who don't bake create very happily baking children :)

Pamela said... [Reply to comment]

I've done that before with things! I think it even happened with pumpkin pie once, too. My mom always used the Libby pumpkin and the recipe on the back. I always thought it was THE recipe for pumpkin pie until I really started baking. Looks yummy!

Jen H said... [Reply to comment]

I love that you made this pie, it's how my mom used to make them too!

Mermaid Sews said... [Reply to comment]

Yum, I have never made pumkin pie because my dad LOVES it and gets it from the same bakery (not even near their house anymore) for thanksgiving and he specifically asked me not to try and bake one because he loves theirs and why mess with a good thing? But one year, I will - and make him do a blind taste test.

Post a Comment

Blog Widget by LinkWithin