Shoofly pie
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2008-07-03T13:35:53Z
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'''Shoofly pie''' (or '''shoo-fly pie''') is a [[molasses]] [[pie]] considered traditional among the [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] and also known in [[Cuisine of the Southern United States|Southern cooking]].
The more common version of the recipe — sometimes referred to as "wet bottom" — consists of a layer of sweet, gooey molasses beneath a crumb topping sometimes compared to that of a [[coffee cake]]. In contrast, a "dry bottom" shoofly pie is more thoroughly mixed into a cake-like consistency.
The dessert has earned quite a reputation in the "Dutch Country" of [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]], where its distinctive flavor and texture is quite alluring to tourists.
The term "shoo-fly pie" first appeared in print in 1926.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink'' (ISBN 0-86730-784-6), by John Mariani.</ref> The name is commonly thought to arise from the fact that the molasses in the pie is so attractive to [[Housefly|flies]] that they have to be constantly "shooed" away.<ref>[http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpies.html#shooflypie History notes on pie and pastry], from the website of a [[Morris County, New Jersey]] reference librarian</ref>
A Montgomery pie is similar to a shoofly pie though [[lime]] juice is usually added to the bottom layer and [[buttermilk]] to the topping.<ref>[http://www.extension.psu.edu/ncregion/food/pdf/jul2703.pdf Montgomery Pies for Summertime Dessert], from the website of the [[cooperative extension service]] at [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]]</ref>. A [[chess pie]] is also similar, though unlayered and made with [[corn syrup]].
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=March 2008}}
* The song [[Shoo-Fly_Pie_and_Apple_Pan_Dowdy|"Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy"]] was first performed by [[June Christy]] singing with [[Stan Kenton]] and his orchestra; a [[cover version]] performed by [[Dinah Shore]] in 1946 was her first top ten hit. The song was written by songwriter Guy Wood. Present-day rights to the song are held by [[Paul McCartney]]'s [[MPL Communications]].<ref>[http://www.mplcommunications.com/song_display.asp?SongNum=3480 Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy], with a sample of the Dinah Shore recording (from the [[MPL Communications]] website)</ref>
* As of July 2006, "I break for Shoofly Pie" is the official [[bumper sticker]] of the state of Pennsylvania. <ref>[http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/bumperstickerForm.pa VisitPA.com bumper sticker contest]</ref>
==References==
<references />
==External links==
*[http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/coldfusion/display.cfm?ID=matf&PageNum=421 "Pebble-Dash" or Shoo-Fly Pie], a page from a 1915 cookbook (''Mary At The Farm And Book Of Recipes Compiled During Her Visit Among The "Pennsylvania Germans"'') at the website of the [[Michigan State University]] Library
*[http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/17043 Shoo-fly, don't Amish me], a March 2006 ''[[Yale Daily News]]'' article on the pie which includes a recipe
*[http://www.berksweb.com/pam/shoofly.html Berk's Web, Authentic Berk's County Recipes], several recipes for shoofly pie, including both "wet-bottom" and "dry-bottom" varieties
[[Category:Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine]]
[[Category:Lancaster, Pennsylvania cuisine]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Southern United States]]
[[Category:American pies]]
[[Category:Sweet pies]]
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