Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies [Hardcover]

Mollie Cox Bryan (Author), Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant and Bakery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

Legendary Recipes from Virginia's Queen of Pie Mrs. Rowe, known fondly as "the Pie Lady" by legions of loyal customers, was the quintessential purveyor of all-American comfort food. Today her family carries on this legacy at the original Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant and Bakery in Staunton, Virginia, as well as at the new country buffet. The restaurant's bustling take-out counter sells a staggering 100 handmade pies every day! With the pies being snapped up that quickly, it's no wonder that Mrs. Rowe urged her customers to order dessert first. In Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies, recipes for Southern classics like Key Lime Pie and Pecan Fudge Pie sit alongside restaurant favorites like French Apple Pie and Original Coconut Cream Pie. Additional recipes gathered from family notebooks and recipe boxes include regional gems like Shoofly Pie and Lemon Chess Pie. With berries and custards and fudge--oh my!--plus a variety of delectable crusts and toppings, this mouthwatering collection offers a little slice of Southern hospitality that will satisfy every type of sweet tooth--and convince even city slickers to take the time to smell the Fresh Peach Pie.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Writer and poet Bryan follows up 2006's Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook by zeroing in on the Virginia establishment's highly lauded desserts. Bryan's compilation of 65 recipes hits all the sweet spots, offering reliable standards like peach, blueberry, coconut cream and sweet potato pies, as well as caramel coconut, german chocolate and watermelon variations. Though most of the recipes are basic, achieving the perfect crust isn't; Bryan offers patient tutelage and step-by-step photos, but acknowledges that Mrs. Rowe's technique took years to master. Even experienced pie makers should pick up a trick or two; Virginia's Almost Impossible Coconut Pie, for instance, has no crust-the custard filling creates a firm outer layer when baked. Those looking to tweak their crust might want to consider cream cheese, which makes a tangier product than butter and flour alone. Bakers stymied by weeping meringues, meanwhile, will be comforted by the restaurant's "weepless" version, bolstered with salt and cornstarch. Seasoned pie pros and newbies will both find this ode to southern desserts a helpful and lasting resource.
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Review

Writer and poet Bryan follows up 2006's Mrs. Rowe's Restaurant Cookbook by zeroing in on the Virginia establishment's highly lauded desserts. Bryan's compilation of 65 recipes hits all the sweet spots, offering reliable standards like peach, blueberry, coconut cream and sweet potato pies, as well as caramel coconut, german chocolate and watermelon variations. Though most of the recipes are basic, achieving the perfect crust isn't; Bryan offers patient tutelage and step-by-step photos, but acknowledges that Mrs. Rowe's technique took years to master. Even experienced pie makers should pick up a trick or two; Virginia's Almost Impossible Coconut Pie, for instance, has no crust--the custard filling creates a firm outer layer when baked. Those looking to tweak their crust might want to consider cream cheese, which makes a tangier product than butter and flour alone. Bakers stymied by weeping meringues, meanwhile, will be comforted by the restaurant's "weepless" version, bolstered with salt and cornstarch. Seasoned pie pros and newbies will both find this ode to southern desserts a helpful and lasting resource. (July)
--Publishers Weekly, 6/8/09

"Those pies! Man, oh, man. Like no other. She made a butterscotch pie that we would buy whole and take up to my granny's in Bluefield, West Virginia. I can taste it now." --Kendra Bailey Morris, "Accidental Chef" columnist, Richmond Times Dispatch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580089801
• ISBN-13: 978-1580089807
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking > Pies

More About the Author

Mollie Cox Bryan is a cookbook author with a penchant for murder. Her first mystery novel is SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS (Kensington, 2012). She is also the author of MRS. ROWE'S LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHERN PIES (RANDOM HOUSE, 2009) and MRS. ROWE'S RESTAURANT COOKBOOK; A LIFETIME OF RECIPES FROM THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY (Ten Speed Press, 2006). A little pie. A little mystery. Life is good.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies, August 18, 2009

By 

Grace Bird (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies (Hardcover)

This is one of the treasures in my collection of recipe books. It's more than just another book of nice desserts - it has interesting little tidbits and useful tips and instructions to ensure that your pies turn out perfectly. This little book has a whole section simply devoted to Crusts and Toppings and then the recipes - utterly delicious!!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review from a Southerner in New Mexico, April 15, 2010

By 

M L Stockham "Cookbook Queen" (Farmington, NM USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies (Hardcover)

I was looking for a pie book that had southern feel and charm. I found it in this cookbook. The recipes are easy to understand and straight forward. No fluff in this book of recipes. I made the chocolate chess pie and it turned out great. This is my first experience with trying to make good pies and it was a winner. I have oodles of cookbooks, but when I want to make a pie, this cookbook is my first "reach". One helpful hint about the cookbook...Although each recipe states what size of pie, either 9" or 10", make sure your pie plate is not a deep dish. I have many stoneware pie plates and although the size is 9", I needed to double the recipe to make the filling thick enough to fill the pie to a desirable level. Like I said, I am a great cook, but pie making is new to me! Maybe an old pro would know these things or at least looked closely at the pictures! I would recommend this book if you are wanting to make some wonderful pies with no Fluff!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful!, August 11, 2009

By 

Kathy C (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies (Hardcover)

I've tried several of the recipes in your cookbook and like them all, but it would be worth the price of the book and more JUST for the blackberry pie recipe. I LOVE that! I've made it using black raspberries, red raspberries, and this week, blackberries. I'm not a big blackberry fan, typically, but in this pie--wow! I am hooked!

Thank you for your wonderful little book! It's a delight to hold b/c of it's size, the photographs are enticing, and the finished products--mmmmm...