Nolstalgia

For years I've been threatening to write a book celebrating (and perhaps mythologizing) the flavors of New England from the kitchen of a reluctant ex-pat.

For me, yankee eatin' includes whoopie pies, maple custard, lobster boils, plank-baked shad, birch beer, gingerbread, grape jelly, clam fritters, clam chowder, native corn, blueberry buckle, Portuguese bread and fishermen's stews, grapenut and indian pudding, blue crabs.

Blue fish, doughboys, kielbasa, sauerkraut, chicken and dumplings, chicken pot pie, squaw bread,  cheddar and chutney, pierogies, roast beef and horseradish cream, arroz con gandules from that place in Holyoke, cranberry tea loaves, American Chop Suey(just kidding!).

New Haven apizza, corned beef and red flannel hash, shortbread, pumpkin bisque, Humel hot dogs and Fenway Franks, soda bread, shepherd's pie, succotash, apple cider doughnuts, apple crisp, salt cod cakes, biscuits and honey butter, baked beans, boston cream pie. And.. dare I admit it?... Dunkin Donuts coffee.

If I were to record my interpretation of New England soul food, the inaugural dessert would be Toll House Pie, the first pie I ever made.

Have you had it? Run out and buy premade crust if you must, but please try this pie! The chocolate chips sink to the bottom and become a gooey chocolate layer while the top caramelizes and forms a walnut-y, cookie-like, butter-rich top. Heaven!

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Toll House Pie

I've had this recipe for so long that I can't cite its original source, although it more than likely came from the back of a bag of chocolate chips.

one unbaked 9" pie shell

2 lg eggs, room temp

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup butter, room temp.

1 cup semi or bittersweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped, toasted walnuts

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Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat eggs on high speed until fluffy (3 minutes or so). Add flour, both sugars, and salt. Beat in the butter and vanilla, then stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Scoop into unbaked pie shell and smooth with spatula.

Bake 50-60 minutes, or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Serve warm and ala mode!

Comments

[Mitzy]

yum--i can go for some shepherd's pie and some toll house pie right about now. thanks for making me hungry!

[Patty]

I have to try making that. Another wonderful entry and it makes me think of home.

[shuna fish lydon]

That list makes me want to jump on a plane and go back home.

thanks for the imaginary trasport! yum.

[Tanna]

Carmalized top, umm...sounds sooo good.

[peabody]

Yeah, I make this for my hubby from time to time. He fell in love with the it the first time he tried it....I always loved it.

[Madeleine]

I truly enjoy traveling to other regions of the country and taste and enjoy the local cusine, but am always happy to come back to New England and enjoy many of the things you have listed (except, of course, Dunkin Donuts coffee).

Some say that New Haven has the best pizza, but I'll have to vote for the great pies from Springfield MA or First and Last Tavern in Hartford and Middletown CT.

I think I'll have me a dish of apple crisp, topped off with carmel swirl ice cream. Have some sitting in the fridge.

[Ivonne]

Oh but if you publish a cookbook, then I will not be able to secretly publish all the recipes I've been stealing from your blog.

Oh wait ... did I just say that out loud???

All kidding aside, what are you waiting for. Write that cookbook!!!

[Madeleine]

Go for it!

[Ann]

I just love NewEnland cooking.I just love a homemaid apple pie made with native NewEnland apples. BUT then that is because Iam from NewEnland.They also have the best clam chower here in NewEnland. Ann

Are you sure you're from New England? It's called clam chowdah.

[Regina]

New England sounds very much like the Midwest, except you call it "soda" and we call it "pop". Chicago's Pizzeria Uno is said to be the best in the world. I have never been east of Erie, so whom am I to say! Little John's in Peoria is Carl's personal favorite. Mine is Chuck E. Cheeses which also is in Peoria. Chuckie E. Cheeses is great for kids of all ages, as it not only offers pizza and beer, (pop for the kiddies!) but you can play skeet ball, Pac-Man, Miss Pac Man, pinball, and tons of other games. You can win tickets that you can also trade in for actual prizes! Carl saved 2,854 tickets and chose an 8 X 10 framed picture of dogs playing cards. It is precious. If you are ever on vacation in Peoria, and have nothing to do, if you are looking for some fun try Chuck E. Cheeses. The memories will last a lifetime!

[FJH]

When it comes to New England cuisine, let us not forget...fluffernutters, Hoodsie cups and Friendly's Fishamajigs.

[Ann]

So I missed spelled it so what. This is a cooking blog.Not a spelling bee. And I am for NewEnland. So is my cousin whos blog this is and I donot think she cares who someone spells a word. Ann