Preparing a good crust proves as easy as pie

Ledyard - Upon entering the Congregational Church of Ledyard's fellowship hall Sunday afternoon, smells of butter, sugar and pie crust tickled a guest's nose.

Women in aprons skittered about the adjourning kitchen, checking sweet and savory creations in the ovens or on tables that within moments would be presented to about 25 guests.

This was not your ordinary meal, however.

Local foodies Andrea Buka and Jennifer Finlayson were there to talk the participants through the steps of making a basic pie crust to more advanced techniques for Cornish Pasties, a type of meat pie.

The "Easy As Pie" event was hosted by the Friends of the Ledyard Public Libraries as part of its winter adult reading program.

Mary Ellen Osborne, assistant librarian, said the group has been hosting a winter-themed winter program since about 2002. This year they wanted to showcase local talent.

"I'm a fan of Andrea," resident Ed Lamb said after sampling a serving of Cornish pasties. "She is a food historian and there is a lot of history behind cooking … and it can be easy on the stomach, too."

As Buka, the teen services coordinator for the libraries, set up the demonstration table, she shared tidbits about the history of pie dating back to ancient Greece and Rome when people commonly wrapped fillings in pastry.

Guests listened to the tales as they helped themselves to coffee or water and perused some of the 16 baking-oriented books in the back of the room that can be checked out from the library.

Some of their reasons for coming to the event varied - they wanted to learn a new recipe or they wanted to support the library - but they all had one in common with Sandra McCourt of Uncasville.

"I came to eat," she said smiling as she thumbed through the day's recipes.

The menu included Christmas pies - a Tourtiere & Mincemeat - and winter fruit pies - Shaker Lemon and Tarte Tatin, appetizer pies - Empanadas - and medieval pies - Tart in Ember Day (onion tart).

As the demonstrations continued, teens Sharon Finlayson, 14, Paige Gruszkowski, 15, and Faith Bacon, 14, served up the creations for the participants to sample.

Irene Nichols, 80, said she attended the lesson because she wants "to learn to be a better cook."

"Growing up I didn't have much time," she said smiling.

Eileen Rosen said she rarely makes pies and when she does she usually buys the pie crust and tries to pass it off as her own.

Resident Sue Sexton already has the techniques of basic pie-making down. Her favorite is fresh peach. She likes to learn new recipes and was looking for ideas for savory pies.

Buka and Finlayson said they purposefully shied away from ordinary pie recipes to challenge the guests' pallets and skills.

"They do a good job and they do it for free," Nichols said before Buka launched into her next demonstration.