Went to see the movie today and loved it. I have a strong belief in the healing powers of pie, so it wasn’t such a hard sell to begin with.
I was also happy to see Andy Griffith in a supporting role. (In his youth, I’d put him right up there with Gary Cooper for sex appeal. Oo baby!)
This movie could have been awful in the style of “Steel Magnolias,” a movie that just plain rubbed me the wrong way. (If I want to see a quirky Southern chick flick, give me “Fried Green Tomatos” anytime.) But writer and director Adrienne Shelly had just the right touch to keep it light, yet filling - like a good pie, now that I think of it. (She was murdered last year - her death was the basis of a “Law and Order” episode.) Shelley appears in the film as one of the waitresses at Joe’s Pie Diner.
Cheryl Hines (from “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) is a hoot as waitress Becka, and Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion (both of “Serenity”) are wonderful as (respectively) Jenna, an unhappily-pregnant married woman and the married OB-GYN with whom she’s having an affair. Jeremy Sisto (”Six Feet Under”) is her very creepy and controlling husband. (Reminds me of someone who used to be married to someone I knew.)
Anyway, two thumbs up. A good one!
The “healing powers of pie”? Maybe you’re on to something, Susie. Ralph Waldo Emerson insisted on pie for breakfast every day. And he turned out okay.
* 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 2 eggs
* 1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)
Pie for breakfast? Damn straight.