Remembering... Raisin Pie

Remembering ... Raisin Pie

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."

And for decades tradition in the United States has brought together friends and family to remember a loved one who has passed into the next world.  We are left with memories and stories -- stories often told in the after days around food.  Before modern refrigeration came, death during seasons where there was a lack of fresh fruit, limited the pie offerings for the gatherings. But women (the primary cooks in the households of years past) were ingenious in their quest to share food at these gatherings.  Thus the "funeral pie" was born.  Dried raisins were available year around and thus could be used to make a raisin pie anytime during the year.  The popularity of the raisin pie on these occasions earned it the title of "funeral pie."

As years passed the raisin pie has gone under revision.  The basic raisin pie has been embellished with a meringue topping in place of the top crust; or eggs have been added and beaten into the raisins.

The tradition of the raisin pie as the favored funeral pie has gone by the wayside, but just the thought of raisin pie brings memories to me.  Memories of the loved ones lost and gone in the last years.  Sharing a raisin pie, no matter the occasion, brings memories back.

"At the blueness of the skies; and in the warmth of summer, we remember them."  And the memories bring joy with each passing day.