Sibling Rivalry - Ann Landers' & Dear Abby's Pecan Pie recipes.
by John Byers
Every Christmas I used to cook a pecan pie from a recipe
I found in one of Ann Landers holiday columns sometime in the sixties. Since I was thinking of making it again this year, I was thrilled to learn that Dear Abby also had a pecan pie recipe. Hoping to combine recipes to create my own distinctive version of the dessert, I got a copy of each.
After studying them carefully, here are the only differences that I could find: Ann tells us to use white corn syrup; Abby suggests using light corn syrup. Although both women's recipes call for a cup of dark brown sugar, only Abby wants us to make sure the cup is firmly packed. Ann tells us to use a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla; Abby, clearly wanting to leave nothing to chance, recommends using 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of vanilla. Otherwise, the recipes are exactly the same.
Since neither women, to the best of my knowledge, ever thanked the other for teaching her how to make what I consider a near-perfect pecan pie, I have decided that their dueling recipes prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that, no matter how famous you become, sibling rivalry never dies...
For the recipes and a cool website go here:
Sibling Rivalry
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9 Comments:
the link didnt show for some reason. Here it is:
http://www.oneforthetable.com/oftt/articles/sibling-rivalry.html
jeremypb at 7:30PM on 12/13/07
My newspaper only carried Dear Abby. I cut out the recipe and still have it in my disorganized files. If memory serves, she had the pie in a restaurant and pleaded for the recipe and the right to share it with her readers. She waxed so poetically about it, I'll bet millions of us cut it out and baked it. I believe it was reprinted nearly every year, because she had so many requests for it. I agree with you - it is decadent! I had no idea her twin published her own version.
The only variation I've ever used is Paula Deen's cheesecake pecan pie. It's delicious and a little lighter.....sic.
I also make pecan tarts in muffin tins (cream cheese in the crust) that taste just like the pie, but are put on the cookie tray.
PerkyMac at 7:42PM on 12/13/07
I just noticed a very cute (guessing Freudian wouldn't apply in this case) spelling mistake. You spelled reciPIES regarding PIES. ;)
PerkyMac at 7:44PM on 12/13/07
i use abby's recipe. but i make it with dark corn syrup, which gives it a bitter edge, and a big splash of bourbon.
cybercita at 8:44PM on 12/13/07
MMMmmm... love the bourbon idea, cyber... please tell more.
Me personally, I like a pecan pie that doesn't use corn syrup. Not so sweet and much tastier without, IMHO. Making one next week for my son. He loves the little tarts -- maybe I'll make those! Yum!
LoCo at 9:45PM on 12/13/07
Abby's also called for 1 heaping cup pecan halves and didn't say how long to bake it - though I wonder if this omission was made by Mr. Byers and not Abby.
CanadianFoodieGirl at 10:16AM on 12/14/07
Try this, bourbon chocolate pecan pie. I find regular pecan pie too sweet. Adding a splash of bourbon and some dutch-processed cocoa powder makes it just right. Otherwise, I skip the pie altogether and have a glass of bourbon and a piece of fine chocolate for dessert.
Library Lady at 10:18AM on 12/14/07
I despise pecan pie. Is that so wrong?
lo82070 at 2:12PM on 12/14/07
Not being able to spell is the only thing that is *so wrong.* The pie in this case is secondary. Although delicious.
Abby and Ann rather famously hated each other's guts. I'm sure it went way beyond pie.
guido at 3:52PM on 12/14/07