So, my post this week was inspired by a favorite dessert of mine, the apple pie.
I'm sure we've all heard the expression, "As American as Apple Pie", as I was enjoying my ice cream and pie I wondered where this expression originated and when the apple pie became embedded in our American conscious.
It seems that, like most great american traditions, the apple pie's origins go back to Europe, where pie recipes including apples date back to Chaucer’s time. The pie was perhaps first introduced to the colonies by the English, who were more likely to put meat or minced nuts in their pies than fruit. The apple pie was probably introduced to the colonies by the dutch.
The slogan, "It's as American as apple pie", probably originates during WW2 as a response to what soldiers where fighting for, "mom and apple pie".
Of course all of this talk of apples and pies made me think of Johnny Appleseed. I began to wonder how his legend began and whether or not he was a real person. It turns out he was.
His name was John Chapman, he lived from about 1774 and died in the 1840's. His work as a missionary in the Swedenborgian church allowed him to travel all over the middle north west. He came by his nickname because of his kindness in helping pioneers plant apple orchards and his willingness to spread apple seeds from New York to Ohio. Because of his generous heart he has earned a spot as one of America's legends.
