| How
to pick the perfect applie pie for Thanksgiving dinner
By Gentri Lawrence
November 14, 2005 | Aside
from being a time to spend with family, Thanksgiving
is about food and usually produces the best meal all
year. I look forward to the meal but especially the
pie, flaky crusts filled with pumpkin, banana creme,
cherries and especially apple.
Not every day is Thanksgiving and
my culinary endeavors usually result in stirfry or spaghetti
based on the lack of time. So, I conducted a study:
can a purchased apple pie be just as good as or better
than homemade? Four pies were acquired, a homemade apple
pie, $7; a Marie Callendar's frozen pie, $3.99 on sale;
a ready-made pie purchased at Lee's Bakery, $4.49; and
a pie from the Lion House Pantry, $8.99. Taste tests
graded each pie on taste, texture, all around favorite
and favorite with knowledge of the price, from one to
four, one being the best.
| |
Homemade |
Marie Callendar's |
Lee's Bakery |
Lion House Pantry |
| Taste |
1.6 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
| Texture |
1.5 |
2.6 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
| All around Favorite |
1.6 |
3 |
2.6 |
2.83 |
| Favorite for Price |
1.6 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
The homemade pie took an hour to prepare
and an hour to cook, but the cook was rewarded with
a beautiful flaky crust and fresh taste. Carly Palmer
said, "it has a light fluffy crust with fresh tasting
apples that you don't find in the other pies."
The Marie Callendar's pie was easy
to prepare, remove the plastic cover and cook for 35
minutes. The pie came with a good taste out of a box.
"I loved the taste and the convenience the frozen pie
offered," said Wendy Wood.
Lee's Bakery was a painless alternative,
simply select and buy at the bakery. While smaller than
the other pies it provided a sweet, simple concoction
without turning on the oven. Nathan Green said, "the
apple filling had a great taste."
The pie from the Lion House Pantry
had a distinctly cinnamon taste in the juicy filling.
I had to go out of my way to get the pie but it was
large and had a beautiful appearance. "It tastes like
my mom's homemade pie," said Jafus Palmer.
Every time I administered the test
the results were different. Some people loved the sweeter
Lee's concoction; others liked the juicy and cinnamon
taste of the Lion House. Some liked the convenience
of the inexpensive frozen pie, others liked the fresh
tasting apples in the homemade pie. It all depends on
what you look for in pie. I am somewhat biased for the
homemade but if I had to chose another, it would be
the Marie Callendar's pie. The pie had a great flavor
with just the right texture. The wonderful smell that
filled the house was also a plus.
Overall the homemade was the best
but the other three pies offered good alternatives.
Based on the taste test, go for the Lee's bakery pie
if you are in a hurry, but if you have an extra hour
or two bake the homemade, your taste buds will thank
you.
NW
CC |
