People Send Me Stuff

People have been sending me stuff, and I’m behind in answering/exhibiting their letters.

Michael – Love your blog! I’m a pie baker myself in addition to moonlighting as a director and choreographer. Would love to bake sometime together. Here are some of my pies…

I also have a musical that I directed starting performances May 15th. Its hilarious and I’d love for you to come.

Dan

Dan.

First of all – those are some awesome looking pies. It looks like you’ve achieved a high flake crust. You used vegetable shortening – am I right? I put half a cup into a double crust recipe. Plus a stick and a half of butter. I guess that’s pretty standard.

Second of all. What musical? Lemme look at my calendar and see. Sounds fun. Is it in the New York area?

Thanks for writing in!

Piefolk

Italians have Ham Pie or Easter Pie on Easter Sunday. It is for the end of lent

I made some ham pies for Easter using my grandmothers recipe.

-PAUL

Paul’s NaNa’s Ham Pie * 1/2 lb. sweet sausage ( cooked and broken up) * 1/2 lb. hot sausage (cooked and broken up) * 1 lb “Good” baked ham (cut into small cubes) *1/2 lb salami (cut into small cubes) *1/2 lb pepperoni (cut into small cubes) *
2 lbs. ricotta *
2 cups Mozzarella * 1/4 c. grated cheese *
1/4 c. chopped parsley *
5 raw eggs *
1/4 tsp. black pepper * mix all ingredients and pour into pie shell ( recipe to follow) add 5 hard cooked eggs before you put the top shell on. Brush shell with raw egg an bake for 1 – 1/12 hour at 375 until golden,

Aunt Jenny’s Perfect Every Time Pie Crust 2 Cups of flour * 2/3 cups of Crisco * 1/4 cold water * Cut ( with a knife) 1 3/4 cups of flour and 2/3 cup of Crisco until it is mixed well (crummy) * mix 1/4 cold water and 1/4 flour to a paste * ad to Crisco and flour and Kneed with hands to a dough * should make enough for a top and bottom of pie

Thanks for writing in, Paul. I’ll have to give this recipe a try.

I like how you italicized recipe. Like it was ominous, or something.

The pies look amazing!

Good job!

Piefolk

michael,

I was 15 in 1968, While I was walking home from school I was attacked, beaten and raped. The boys where never charged and I was more or less told it was my fault for being Gay! It only drove me farther into the closet. I had no parents,they had died when I was 13,so at that moment I was alone in the world…DAMN! even at 58 now it’s hard to remember and relive DAMN

Yours;

sambird53

Sam. You are a brave man. I want you to know that I’m grateful for your letter. Thanks for taking the time out to share your memory. I don’t know what to say. It sounds like a terrifying, lonely thing to have happen, and I can’t imagine you trying to process that kind of trauma without the support and love of your parents.

You’re kind to share this story. That must have been a hard time to be Gay. Because it still is hard. There’s still plenty of hatred, fear, and bigotry out there, even today. Maybe even especially today. . I think it’s important for us to remain proud, strong, and unashamed of ourselves. When the world hates you, it seems like you have no choice but to guard your self-esteem cautiously.

I’m glad you didn’t give up. I’m glad you’re here to tell your story.

I love you. I am grateful for you.

Piefolk