The history of pie

It is well known that pie is a popular dessert, especially around Thanksgiving, but does anyone know where pie came from? 

According to TIME, In medieval Europe, pies were savory dishes, most often filled with meat like lamb and wild duck, and spiced with pepper, currants or dates. The origins of pie can be traced all the way back to the Greeks, who are considered to be the creators of the pastry shell. Meat pies were also a part of Roman dessert courses, or secundae mensea (afters or sweets in Latin). 

As stated by History.com, pumpkin pie wasn’t even invented until 1675 when it was first recorded in an English cookbook. Since the first Thanksgiving was in 1621, it is safe to assume that pumpkin pie originated in the Americas, especially because pumpkins are not native to Europe. In fact, pumpkins were first cultivated in Central America around 5,500 B.C. and were one of the first foods that Europeans brought back from their explorations of the region. 

Although historians are unsure what dishes were served at the first Thanksgiving, some documents indicate that the pilgrims made meat pies with dried fruits, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg as seasonings. And, although pie was a delicious dish, it was largely popular due to the fact that the tops of the pie acted as a way to preserve food in the winter months. 

Regardless of its origins, pie remains a well-liked dessert to many people, including several teachers at Santa Fe. Some of their recipes are listed below. Enjoy!