During the colonial period, English settlers introduced their penchant for pies to the Americas. They also introduced the first African to Virginia in 1619. The first Africans came as indentured servants; the Virginia colony also included white indentured servants from Europe. White indentured servants dominated during the first generation of British settlement, Africans became the majority labor force during the second generation, and their numerical dominance continued to increase. It was during this time that Africans in the colonial south acquired a taste for and the ability to make pies which they made both with African yams brought over on slave ships and American varieties of sweet potatoes. They also learned from Native Americans how to cook with pumpkins. Commoners enjoyed desserts on holidays when employers gave them extra time and access to staples like sugar, flour, and spices. Thus, for many southerners pies became associated with holidays.
Fred's Sweet Potato Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups baked organic sweet potatoes and 2 cups baked pumpkin
2 large eggs or egg substitutes
1 cup milk (I use soy milk)
2 large eggs (or egg substitutes)
1 cup of milk (I use vanilla soy milk you can use cow milk)
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
