Pie or cake?

[BenL]

Offshoot of Zerbie's thread about Thanksgiving cooking.

Did you grow up in a pie or cake family? By that, I mean that, except for birthdays, when there was a special occasion was the dessert pie or cake?

I grew up in a pie family. My mother and her two sisters would quietly vie with each other over who made the best pie with the flakiest crust. There were five boys who were first cousins in those three families. Needless to say, we were always willing to sample the results, especially when we were all teenagers.

Charley grew up in a cake family. Whenever his family gathered, someone baked a fancy cake and decorated it. Now, I like cake, but it can't hold a candle, birthday or otherwise, to a good piece of pie.

And while you're at it, let us all know what your favorites in each category are.

[RedneckDyke]

Duh! Pie and Cake!!!!!

And Cobbler!!!!

[sailaway58]

I can't comment right now, I'm eating a piece of pecan pie left from Thursday. ;)

[scott snedeker]

punkin pie, yum! :D and mince pie, yuck! :sick: But we always had both. Some how It would feel incomplete without the mince pie though! :lol:

[Progo35]

You know, I'd say both. On birthdays, we usually have cake. On my Dad's birthday, however, we often have both: A Carvel ice cream cake on night and a homemade pie or dessert another night when his best friend cooks dinner for him at the Cape. We've always had pies on Thanksgiving and Christmas, although last year at Thanksgiving we also had a scrumptious pumpkin maple torte/cake.

[antonyh]

You know, I'd say both. On birthdays, we usually have cake. On my Dad's birthday, however, we often have both: A Carvel ice cream cake on night and a homemade pie or dessert another night when his best friend cooks dinner for him at the Cape. We've always had pies on Thanksgiving and Christmas, although last year at Thanksgiving we also had a scrumptious pumpkin maple torte/cake.

Yummy. Can I eat at your house :D

[tpdncr4christ]

BNjcuZ-LiSY

[Zerbie]

:lol:

I thought the question was going to be which we prefer.

The question is which were we served more often at home growing up. That would be cake. Always store bought. Nahhhh. I don't care for cake. In fact, my aversion to cake is strong enough that it took an effort to come up with something for a wedding cake that I would actually eat. Finally I remembered that I DO like the red velvet variety. Mmm, that stuff's nice. :):):):agree::agree::agree:

I definitely prefer pie. That said, I don't go that crazy over pies either. Not much of a cake/pie person. Way too sweet. Hubby, otoh, he loves pies and buys one every couple weeks or so from the bakery at the grocery store.

For Thanksgiving a couple days ago, not being much of a baker myself, I went and got a store-bought pie. Brace yourself Scotty, it was mince.

Can I just announce? I LOVE Mince Pie!!!!!!!!!
:weee::aparty::tup::rainbow::agree::love::):):):)

I'm just the opposite of Scotty. I LOVE mince pie, I dislike the pumpkin. Growing up, come Thanksgiving, my parents would get the requisite pumpkin pie which I never liked. Mom would tell me mince pies were "disgusting." When I finally had my first taste of mince pie a couple years ago I nearly flipped. It's the one and only pie I really get enthusiastic about. What's not to love about it? :lol::p

[Progo35]

Yummy. Can I eat at your house :D

Yep, any time. :)

[Progo35]

Could someone tell me what's in a mince pie? I'm curious

[scott snedeker]

Could someone tell me what's in a mince pie? I'm curious

Listerene
:lol:

[Jennifer5]

I don't like pie... and I like some cake... but there are a lot of cakes I don't like either.

I like that straight up sugar stuff... give me the chocolate and nobody gets hurt. :borg:

[Zerbie]

Listerene
:lol:

:mad::mad::mad::smashy::smashy::smashy::disagree:: disagree::disagree:

Apples, raisins, spices. . . it varies though, doesn't it?

[Jennifer5]

:mad::mad::mad::smashy::smashy::smashy::disagree:: disagree::disagree:

Apples, raisins, spices. . . it varies though, doesn't it?

Yeah, I think so.... depending on who makes it.. it can be really good or really bad.

[Sherrie Z]

I can't usually access videos due to computer & access limitations ... however, I knew right away that tpdncr's video must be of (my hero) Eddie Izzard's comedy routine on "cake or death" ... right? Thanks! Hee Hee : )

Growing up, it was mostly cake at home ... though both cake and pie were appreciated ... now the family has gradually shifted mostly toward pie.

I like most cakes and pies, but as I've gotten older and cut way back on sugar and chocolate (sigh) I usually go for fruit or berry pies. I used to order chocolate cake in restaurants, now it's usually Key Lime pie if I can find it, otherwise apple or blueberry, or whatever I can find ... I also love peach cobbler. Yum Yum Yum.

[BenL]

Apples, raisins, spices. . . it varies though, doesn't it?

Also, currants and citron.

It was originally called minced meat pie. The original Yankee recipes call for minced pieces of suet -- beef fat -- along with the fruits and spices mentioned above. The mixture was cooked and then put aside in a sealed crock to age for several weeks, using a process similar to the one used for fruit cake. (Now there's one cake I despise!) Then the mixture was used as a pie filling.

Sounds gross to modern ears, but that's how the whole minced meat thing started. Nowadays most people call it mince pie and like the spiced minced and preserved fruits.

[Zerbie]

Also, currants and citron.

It was originally called minced meat pie. The original Yankee recipes call for minced pieces of suet -- beef fat -- along with the fruits and spices mentioned above. The mixture was cooked and then put aside in a sealed crock to age for several weeks, using a process similar to the one used for fruit cake. (Now there's one cake I despise!) Then the mixture was used as a pie filling.

Sounds gross to modern ears, but that's how the whole minced meat thing started. Nowadays most people call it mince pie and like the spiced minced and preserved fruits.

That would explain why I always expected mince pie to have meat in it, which is why I avoided trying it until so recently.

[Jennifer5]

See.. I was more interested in the whole idea when I thought that it was a meat pie. Not really caring for pie... meat in a just bread crust sounded good... not really dessert, but good. :rolleyes:

[pnggrad79]

You know, my grandma used to make minced meat pie and the mental image that always came up in my mind was not in the least bit appealing, so I never tried it. I imagined an actual "meat" pie and that didn't gel with my idea of a good pie. Personally I like pecan pie, although not a whole lot at one time, too rich. I love lemon meringue pie. I love lemon cake. Although I am not a big cake or pie eater, but given those two choices, I will eat them.

I am not invited home for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, so if I want lemon meringue or lemon cake I have to make them myself. :rolleyes:

[Vanessa White]

For birthdays, always there was a cake, usually store bought, and always with lots of flowery icing and writing for the special person. I like cake but wayyyy to sweet for me most of the time. In the last few years, we have had also Carvel ice cream cakes, or lucious two layer chocolate cakes for birthday gatherings. I love vanilla or chocolate when I am in the mood, but my fave cake of ALL TIME is definitely Carrot Cake. And yes, there are carrots in it which I think is funny, because it is not what is tasted in it to me at all. I did ask my honey a couple of years ago for a pie for my birthday celebration instead, I think it was cherry.

Pies were also parts of the celebration, but only for Christmas and Thanksgiving usually. My faves were/ are still pumpkin, cherry, and apple, and I HATE MINCE MEAT!! I, too, thought it had some "meat" somehow in it, so I know that was part of the aversion, but I just don't like the taste. This year, I had a piece of my honey's homemade apple pie which is always good, and pumpkin from a local farm. Both were delish!!

Speaking of cakes and pies, is there anyone here that actually LIKES fruitcake? I really don't believe I have ever met a person who does......;)