Go ahead. Play it. You know you want to.
Before you turn away thinking I’ve totally lost my mind for cooking up some possum, just let me say that this is one possum dish you, your family and your friends are absolutely going to love. Trust me. I’ve been asked by THV11 This Morning to prepare Possum Pie for a segment they are calling Foods Unique to Arkansas. Yes, possum pie. If you haven’t already passed out from fright at the thought of something akin to possum pot pie, just know that the closest this pie get to possum is in “playing posum.” According to fellow Arkansas Women Blogger friend and foodie, Kat Robinson in her book Arkansas Pie, it’s called Possum Pie because it impersonates a pie…and a cake…and perhaps a trifle.
Apparently, you can find one version or the other of this dessert in all areas of Arkansas as Kat discovered in her travels around the state. I grew up with my mother calling it Four Layer Delight. So if you’ve had that then you’ve already eaten a big chunk of possum. Go brag to your friends. Just about every restaurant worth its salt in Arkansas offers up this pie. There’s Myrtle Mae’s in Eureka Springs. (You gotta’ love a place called Myrtle Mae’s. She was a real life go-getter and self-made woman, by the way.) The Red Rooster Bistro now of Fort Smith bakes up a batch of pies that you wouldn’t believe, but you can count on Possum Pie being one of those. Then there’s Patti Cakes in Conway (@patticakesAR) , Opal Mae’s in Russellville and Sweet Treats in Lamar. I don’t think Miss Rhoda of Rhoda’s Tamales in Lake Village offers a Possum Pie, but there’s sure to be one somewhere in the Delta. Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets in Keo probably can whip up a mean version although I’ve never eaten it there.
Just remember, if it doesn’t say Possum Pie (or Four Layer Delight) on the dessert menu, then it’s probably not a true authentic Arkansas roadhouse, diner or cafe. And if, as I learned years ago from newspaper columnist Richard Allin, there’s not a good ration of pickem-up trucks and at least one Cadillac in the parking lot of said establishment, you just might as well keep on going anyway cause the food probably won’t be fit to eat. Again, trust me on this. You’ll find a variety of ways that this pie can be prepared. Some use a pie dough crust; others use a pecan shortbread crust. Still others use crumbled up pecan shortbread cookies in much the same way that you might crumble up graham crackers to make a pie shell.
Me? I’m in the pecan shortbread crust camp. But Kat and I differ a tad bit on just how to make that crust. Not terribly significant, but I do include a little frozen butter in mine. And since I am a big fan of dark chocolate, I’ll make my Possum Pie using that instead of milk chocolate. But, you can do whatever floats your boat. I’ve even make this with butterscotch, lemon, pistachio and coconut cream fillings. Not all at once, of course, but who knows that just might be the next best flavor combination.
I’ll be sharing my recipe on the THV11 web site and will provide that link here after they publish it. In the meantime, grab a cup of coffee early Tuesday morning and come join me as I showcase this special Arkansas favorite.
GIVEAWAY; As an added bonus for getting up soon early to watch my little segment, I’ll be giving away a signed copy of Kat’s book to one of my lucky readers (limited to the United States). All you need to do is tell me about your favorite pie in the comments below. Check back here next Friday, Nov. 2,1 to see if you have won. See you early Tuesday, 6:45 a.m, Nov. 18 on THV11 This Morning. Good Luck. PS: You can also view the segment at your leisure by going to the THVII This Morning web page.
I. Love. Pie. All kinds of pie. My favorite bring the German chocolate pie from the new Gooseberry pies in Bentonville. And this book is on my Christmas list! Along with all the Gooseberry pies!
I’ll definitely have to give that one a try. Where is this located? I’ve missed it somehow.
On Walton not far from the post office. http://gooseberrypies.com
Had to do something with all that possum.
http://www.tiedyetravels.com/2010/03/possum-farming-comes-to-delta.html
So what’s your favorite pie?
This is one of my all time favorite desserts. Since I love pie it’s hard to pick a favorite, but coconut cream ranks high on my list.
You would love Miss Pauline’s Coconut Pie. check it out on my blog. This is her own creation and is beyond famous around here.
I LOVE PIE! Two of my favorites are egg custard and sweet potato. But really, any pie will do.
It’s hard to beat a good pie. Of course, I take a bite and send the rest to work with Hubs….otherwise it might not be pretty.
Coconut cream pie is my favorite! It doesn’t really make an appearance this time of year…but I love it!
Britt, go check out Pauline’s coconut pie on my blog. Oh my goodness. It’s the very best anywhere.
buttermilk pie is my new favorite. And the new buttermilk pecan pie P Alken served did not disappoint. I’m also a fan of no bake peanut butter pie and Carmel pie. And mom always makes me a (dyed to match) pink lemonade pie for my bday. Apparently I need this book!
You do love your pie! The recipe for buttermilk pecan pie is on my blog if you get really industrious and want to make it. xoxoxo
I love upside down pumpkin pie!
Ooooo. You need to tell me more about that one.
What a fun post! Pie is absolutely one of my favorite desserts! And breakfasts! lol. My favorite is simply cherry pie. There’s nothing better than a good cherry pie!
That’s a favorite of my daughter as well. She made one all by herself one time for a social studies project. She got an A:)
My favorites include blueberry, Apple, and sweet potato
Some of my favorites as well:)
I made an Australian Butter Squash pie a few weekends that was really good. Nothing beats the buttermilk pecan pie I had at Moss Mountain last year though.
You can find the buttermilk pecan pie recipe on my blog:)
You need to share that squash pie recipe. It sounds wonderful:)
I love many pies, but a good chocolate meringue pie is my favorite! Other favorites are apple and lemon meringue or lemon ice box.
I’m a sucker for anything lemon myself:)
It’s recipes like this that REALLY make me wish I could have dairy.
I love all sorts of SILK and cream pies–maybe because they’re more like cake (I love pie, but CAKE FOREVER!). Chiffon pies… mmmmm…..!
Well, if it’s sweet….it’s calling my name:) Thanks for stopping by Georgeanne:)
I absolutely love coconut pie (Joann Jones’ recipe) although your dark chocolate possum pie is a close second! You do such fabulous segments in THV! Enjoy watching you!!
That coconut pie recipe is on my blog. It’s Pauline Bethel’s original recipe. I’ve been making it for years, but no one makes it quite like Pauline. Glad you enjoyed the possum:)
I love YOUR pies! My favorite type of pie is a Coconut Cream Pie!!! Yummy!!
I have a coconut pie recipe on the blog that is the BEST — Pauline’s Coconut Pie. Oh my goodness.
I saw you on tv this morning and enjoyed the segment. Kat has some of the best recipes and I love her books about Arkansas and the Delta. My favorite Pie I make would be a Bourbon/Pecan Pie. I also made a Bourbon/Pecan/Chocolate Pie that was WAY too rich (but good). I look forward to making a possum pie.
Once you get past the name, it’s delicious! Thanks for stopping by. I’m so proud of Kat and her books. She’s terrific.
I think that my favorite pie right now is tied between the key lime ganache pie I tred at Cajun’s Wharf recently and the buttercream pecan pie from P. Allen Smith’s. Yum!
OOOOHHHHH..I bet that key lime pie was so good — I’m a citrus lover. That buttermilk pecan pie recipe is on my blog if you get fired up about making it:) So good. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Southern Living published a recipe for half pecan half pumpkin pie many years ago. It’s delicious and you only need one piece to enjoy both. Plus it’s beautiful, leaf crust cutouts on top.
Rhoda of Rhoda’s Tamales in Lake Village does the same thing. I’m sure SL got her recipe”) Happy Thanksgiving.