Southern Summer Desserts: Raspberry Buttermilk Pie

I wanted my first post on PBS to be a representation of my favorite thing to make, ever. So, pie it is. It definitely wasn't always this way. Years ago, before I learned how to cook, making a homemade pie was stressful. I made it a few hours before a birthday party and had promised the birthday boy a pie as a gift. Wrong move. Only a few minutes in I realized how over my head I actually was; flour was all over my kitchen, all up in my hair and I quickly learned that the phrase "easy as pie" couldn't have been more inaccurate. Luckily the baking gods were looking out for me (and the recipe I was using was very good) because I made it out alive and showed up to the birthday barbecue with an edible pie.

A week later, I went back in my kitchen to try it again; I was determined to master making a pie! I learned that, like with anything challenging in the kitchen, organization is key. Getting all of the ingredients together before beginning helps with being successful. I also learned that I loved a butter crust over shortening or lard, so this pie crust is all about butter--and the richer and higher-quality the butter, the better.

Buttermilk pie is a Southern throwback, though I made some changes to the original. Butter is totally traditional to a buttermilk pie filling, but I eliminated it from this recipe. I found it to be too, well, buttery and I am a believer that there is such a thing as too much butter. I also added a raspberry swirl which proved to provide a lovely fragrant and fruity element which worked well when paired with the tart, richness of the buttermilk base. My favorite thing about this pie is that it can be made in parts. If you'd like, you can make all of its parts separately. The pie crust, the raspberry swirl and the buttermilk base can all be made the night before and then assembled and baked the next day. When recipes tend to be on the more labor-intensive side, breaking up the process always makes it so much more doable and attractive.

If you decide to make this pie, make sure you bring it to a bbq or summer gathering. This pie will make you friends. Lots of them.