One of my favorite things when I was growing up were my Finnish grandmother’s rice pies ~ piirrakka. I haven’t had them in years because I never learned how to make them, then this fall my cousin gave me a Finnish cookbook that included a recipe for piirakka, so my kids and I decided to give them a try.
The crust is made with rye flour and the rice for the filling is cooked in milk and butter. After the filling cools, the dough is rolled into a circle, the filling is added, and the edges are folded up and crimped to make an oval-shaped pie.
Before the pies go in the oven, they’re glazed with a mixture of egg and melted butter.
When they come out of the oven, they’re glazed with…you guessed it…more of the egg and melted butter, and then they’re ready to enjoy!
My grandfather used to call them mocassins, and you can see why!
I’m happy to say the finished pies were delicious. Not quite as good as Grandma’s but a good first attempt, and I’ll definitely make them again.
Do you have a favorite food from your childhood?
Until next time,
Lee
4 comments
Sheryll
Hi Lee!
My grandmother used to make the best buttermilk pancakes. I still have the metal bowl she used when she made them. My Mom used to bake her own bread as well and she'd get so frustrated with my brothers and I because we'd cut the ends off the bread when it was still warm and slather them in butter. Yum. Then my brothers asked if we couldn't have a loaf of store bought bread, just once. Sigh.
Lee Mckenzie
Sheryll, I don't think there's anything better than the smell of freshly baked bread. No one wonder your mom's always drew a crowd!
Jodie Esch
My mom made the best Yorkshire Puddings! Fluffy and creamy at the same time. Drenched with gravy they were absolutely outstanding.
Lee Mckenzie
Jodie, you're making my mouth water! And I'm noticing a trend here. Favorite foods seem to involve a lot of carbohydrates!