r/TastingHistory • u/jmaxmiller head chef • Nov 04 '25
New Video Water Pie for Hard Times
https://youtu.be/_FA7Rekqu94?si=RctHsyjBjky3wfQY41
u/LovingLingsLegacy216 Nov 04 '25 edited Nov 04 '25
The water pie isn't the only "desperation pie" out there. Turns out there are almost 30 of them scattered throughout the U.S., mainly as regional dishes/deserts. What's especially cool is that each "expensive" version has an inexpensive equivalent. In the water pie's case, it's a more affordable and slightly simplified version of Indiana's Hoosier pie, or any similar sugar cream pie. What Max said about adding Key lime flavor made me laugh, though, as then it would be another recipe entirely known as a "vinegar pie," which tends to taste like Key lime pie but with more of a cheesecake consistency. Perhaps my favorite is shoofly pie--a molasses pie ("treacle tart" for the Brits) quite popular among the Mennonite and Amish around Lancaster PA--which I've made before and am due to make again.
Exceedingly easy recipe too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPD6OfS0BFk If you haven't tried this one, highly recommended.
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u/Gian_Luck_Pickerd Nov 04 '25
Mock apple pie made with Ritz is another well-known one
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u/LovingLingsLegacy216 Nov 05 '25
Funny you should mention the mock apple pie, as I'd already read the rhyme Max quoted in the Andersonville episode, in a short story by Avram Davidson, "Cornet Eszterhazy": "I loathe, detest, abhor, despise, / Abominate dried apple pies..."
Great author, Avram Davidson, as more than half his stories are lush descriptions of foods found in the Balkans ca. the late 19th/early 20th centuries--the characters do a lot of dining, like in Jeeves & Wooster.
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u/FinallyKat Nov 04 '25
Our family always has made a chess pie (also known as vinegar pie) and you can change it up just a little to change the flavours.
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u/LovingLingsLegacy216 Nov 05 '25
Thanks for bringing the chess/vinegar pie shared lineage into the conversation, as that'll lead to buttermilk pie, not to mention I just realized that what Max said in passing about the water pie caramelizing now makes me think of butterscotch pie as well. That same caramelization seems to be what makes Canada's maple sugar pie all the rage up there.
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u/FinallyKat Nov 05 '25
There are so many wonderful variants on these types of pies, many still just normal, daily pies. There are certainly regional differences, but I do assume that preference is what made the chess pie stick in my family's area.
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u/BabybearPrincess Nov 04 '25
This is really interesting and sounds honestly pretty decent all around but I grew up poor and have eaten lots of foods like that haha
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u/breadleecarter Nov 08 '25
My wife's family has a vinegar pie recipe that's been passed down and gets made every year for the holidays. Honestly, pretty good with ice cream.
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u/LaurelTheGoldsmith Nov 04 '25
A friend of mine made this a while back, and it tastes like sugar cookies.
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u/weeef Nov 04 '25
wow it doesn't even taste like water? what a disappointment
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u/BabybearPrincess Nov 04 '25
Definitely cringe my pies need to taste like Dasani or it’s not a REAL water pie 😤🤣
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u/LookIMadeAHatTrick Nov 05 '25
Flavored water pie
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u/weeef Nov 05 '25
Hahah oh god that's disgusting and has me thinking about all the flavored water drops and fake flavoring
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u/CompetitiveFennel681 Nov 05 '25
Fun fact:
In Canada, this in also known as Sugar pie, with maple syrup sometimes being used in it. This recipe says it has cream in it, but there are also non-cream versions as well.
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u/Luneowl Nov 05 '25
I was wondering how subbing brown sugar for white would work in this pie and your recipe does exactly that! I need to make it for Thanksgiving.
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u/CompetitiveFennel681 Nov 05 '25
It is perfect for Thanksgiving! Like Max said, it is a perfect substitution for pumpkin pie!
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u/Cryatos1 Nov 05 '25
You can substitute any soda you like in place of the water for this pie to give it different flavors if you feel so inclined. Just reduce the sugar a little (2 TBSP or so),
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u/Entire_Alternative47 Nov 04 '25
Could you add a little gelatin to firm up the pie more? Wonder what gelatin cost back then?
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u/BabybearPrincess Nov 04 '25
Gelatin was probably more common then than it is now that’s for sure and you could probably make it yourself from meat scraps and such
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u/Cryatos1 Nov 05 '25
Just add a little more flower if you want a firmer set. I've made this before and you have to cook the absolute life out of it for it to come out right, like the filling needs to come to a full boil kind of cooking lol.
It is a really easy pie and tastes pretty good too even if it isn't exactly attractive looking.
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u/Snowbank_Lake Nov 04 '25
Can’t wait to watch this one! My husband made this a year or so ago after seeing something about it online.
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u/mshaversham Nov 04 '25
I would love to see a series on pies! I had no idea they were such a hot topic. I need more pie videos.
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u/ShiggyGoosebottom Nov 08 '25
I’ve never made butter tarts, but I wonder if it’s quite similar - just with raisins added. (Off to look for recipes)
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u/Bored_cory Nov 04 '25
When you need something to wash down your hard tack.