If you’ve never had Sawdust pie before, I really do feel it could become a fast family favorite. The taste is rich and buttery, and whipped cream and sliced bananas set it off to sheer perfection. I just use store bought pie shells for mine (ain’t no shame in my game!) but you can make yours from scratch if you prefer. The pie is easy peasy to whip up with only a mixing bowl and a spoon, and bakes up in about half an hour. Put it in the oven as you sit down to dinner and then let it bake for about half an hour before serving warm with the bananas and whipped cream. Mmmmm.
Whats even better is that the day you make this pie is the perfect day to make another one of my very favorite things to eat: Grandmama’s Fruit Salad. You see, the sawdust pie calls for seven egg whites whereas Grandmama’s Fruit Salad calls for six egg yolks. Now if that ain’t a sign that they oughta be made at the same time I don’t know what is! I could eat that fruit salad all day long. Fortunately for me, you can make it with Splenda!
This pie is one of my mother’s all time favorites and a must have whenever we visit Paducah, Kentucky. Have you never been to Paducah? Well goodness, gracious, what are you waiting for? This small town comes alive each April when quilting enthusiasts from all over the world (yes, world!) descend to take part in the American Quilting Society’s annual show. Vendors set up from every fabric line imaginable and sewing notions and such are in more abundance than you could ever dream possible. You have to book a hotel room a full year in advance and many residents go out of town just to be able to rent their homes out for the event.
Mama and I usually drive up with Sue (her best friend and who we refer to as “Aunt Sue” because she’s been in the family long enough to have earned the title!) and spend the weekend spending all of our saved fabric money to purchase enough to usually do us for most of the year, through extensive quilting projects.
(Sigh.) I miss quilting. I used to be an avid quilter but these days just can’t seem to find the time. I gave up my sewing room in the old house when Katy Rose was born and packed everything away. Now that we have space for a new sewing room, I just can’t seem to find the time anymore. I still consider myself a quilter though, my blood runs patchwork with errant threads spread throughout!
There is a restaurant in Paducah called Patti’s that is one of Mama’s favorite places in the world to eat. They have the thickest pork chops you’ve ever seen and serve huge helpings of Sawdust pie topped with whipped cream and bananas for dessert. I think Mama goes there just for the pie! She was so excited to find the recipe years ago so that she could make it on her own but I know she still loves the treat of going to Patti’s.
