I'm amazed at how dirty this presidential campaign has been. I don't think I've seen as much mud-slinging in any election...ever. The candidates aren't behaving any better either! I'm tired of the haranguing and trash-talking and I want it over so maybe we can have some sort of normalcy. I hear some of my most loved celebrities speaking so hatefully and it not only makes me angry, but just disappointed in them in general. I remember when I was little and it was an election time and I'd ask my parents who they were voting for and they would always refuse to tell me. They'd say it was private and you don't ask that nor discuss it. I don't remember a single time politics were discussed in our house, not even local politics. It was sacred to them and they held it dear to their hearts, especially my father. He served in the Navy during the Korean War and there was nothing more important or as grave a matter as performing your civic duty by voting. It was not just a privilege, it was your duty and he held that close. I am missing him more than usual lately. I am scared of what is happening to America and what our future holds, regardless of who is elected. I can imagine him in the late 1950's to early 1960's being worried and afraid, as I am now, about the Cuban missile crisis and the unrest in the world. He died in 2000 and I can't help but wonder what he'd think of the world today. Is it scarier today than it was in 1962? Was he as fed up with JFK as I am BHO? I overheard him talking in a cafe one day to a man about it and I know he didn't like Kennedy, but then not many in the South did according to their conversation. The only time I heard him discuss politics would be in Paul Stolle's or Knox's Cafe over a Chicken Fried Steak or a Hamburger. Food is a natural conversational lubricant, I guess.
We'd go there on Sunday nights after church, man, Paul Stolle made good burgers. I still remember walking in the door and stepping on the beaded wood floors and smelling the hamburgers. Seeing the red vinyl tablecloths and hearing Miss Doris say "Hello! Have a seat!" I loved Miss Doris, she was a little, round, white haired angel that brought me the most delicious food I could ask for - Hamburgers and Hamburger Steak. She had a voice that sounded like two octaves in one - a little "warbly" I guess. I thought she was great. We never had dessert there because, well, no one made dessert better than my grandmother, not even Paul Stolle. We always had dessert at home and my Daddy's (I'm a good southern girl - and we call our fathers Daddy) favorite was Egg Custard Pie. My grandmother made excellent Custard Pie. Never watery and the crust was never soggy. She said it got watery because you added too much sugar - I found out later it was because it's baked at too high a temperature - so sugar was measured carefully and never exceeded, although I would have liked it a touch sweeter. I still only add precisely 3/4 cup because, again, I'm a good southern girl and I can hear my Meme in my ear saying "it'll make it watery!" As Meme grew older, she didn't cook as much and I missed her desserts so when I was old enough and I got married, I tried my hand at Egg Custard Pie. I measured carefully, baked it per her instructions and the results were perfect. No water, no soggy crust. Perfect. I packed up a piece of that pie and took it to Daddy. I handed it to him and watched as he uncovered the plate and smiled "Did you make this?" I told him yes and he took a bite. "Is it good? It's my first one" I told him. He smiled again "Sugar, that's delicious. I think that might be better than Meme's" I know I beamed. A compliment from my father was a rare treat you had to earn so this one was a prize to me.
Meme's Egg Custard Pie
One 9" unbaked pie crust (recipe follows)
4 eggs, beaten
3/4 C sugar
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 C scalded milk
In a pitcher or bowl with spout, combine beaten eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla. Add a little of the hot milk to the egg mixture and whisk immediately to temper. Whisk in the remaining milk and pour into pie crust. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 375, bake for 35-40 minutes or until knife blade inserted comes out clean. Cool.
Plain Pastry
1 1/2 C AP flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 C shortening
4T - 5T ice water
Combine flour and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening till pea-sized. Add ice water a tablespoon at a time till dough comes together - mixing quickly to avoid the dough from getting tough. Roll out on floured board to fit pie plate and place in plate. Trim overhang to 1/2" excess, fold under and crimp to make it pretty.
Enjoy!
