Old fashioned pies and desserts! Wow, talk about being in food heaven, that's where we were today. We visited with Melba Nance as she shared some wonderful recipes on old fashioned baking. Melba works out of the Madison County Farmers Market on Cook Ave. You can find her there or you can call her @ (256) 684-1355. Her specialties are home-made pies, cakes and other desserts that are made from scratch. The word "Good" does not do justice to her creations. Melba has agreed to share a few of her recipes with us, but remember, it's not just the recipe that makes food good, but the way you prepare it that counts.
The Pie Shop
Old Fashioned Pies & Desserts
Madison County Farmers Market
1022 Cook Ave.
Huntsville, AL 35801
Melba Boles Nance ( 256) 684-1355
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Pie
(family recipe,)
2 to 4 large sweet potatoes (approximately 1 ½ pounds)
2 to 3 eggs
6 to 8 ounces evaporated milk
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup butter melted
1 Tablespoon flour
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Boil, peel and mash potatoes. After mashing, add butter , milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and eggs. Stir well or pour into mixer and mix well until all ingredients are blended. Pour into 9” pie shell.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 50 to 60 minutes. Pie should be lightly brown on top and the edges should be a golden brown.
Classic Pecan Pie
(reprinted from Karosyrup.com)
1 Cup Karo corn syrup (dark)
3 eggs slightly beaten
2 Tbs. Butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cups pecan halves (chopping pecans is optional)
1 unbaked pie 9” pie shell
In large bowl, stir the first 5 ingredients until well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie shell. Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool and serve.
Cream Cheese Pound Cake
3 cups sugar
3 sticks of butter
1 8oz. pack cream cheese
6 eggs
3 cups (sifted) cake flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Using a flat beater, cream butter, sugar and cream cheese, until light and fluffy. Add flour and eggs alternately, beginning and ending with the flour. Add vanilla and give a final stir with mixer.
Scrape bottom of bowl and pour mixture into greased10 inch tube pan.
Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until tested done with toothpick.
Basic Pie Crust
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup Crisco shortening
1 stick butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ cup water
Mix dry ingredients. Mix shortening & butter together, then chill for at least 1 hour to form a “fat patty.” Cut the “fat patty” into the dry ingredients with pastry cutter. Add water and work until the dough forms.
Makes 2 or 3 flakey pie crusts.
I tried all three of these great recipes and they are just that, GREAT!
