Ms. American Pie: Buttery Good Pie Recipes and Bold Tales from the American Gothic House

Wonderful book for pie recipes from a writer I highly respect. She is an inspiration. The backdrop of Grant Wood's famous Gothic House is especially dear to me because of my love of all things "Grant Wood". After meeting Beth there and bringing home several of her astonishing pies that day I must say it is one of my favorite memories. Never dreamed I would ever get the opportunity to see the inside of this world-famous house. Beth Howard...a gracious host and talented writer.

I read Beth Howard's first book (Making Piece, A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie) and loved it. I have been inspired, educated and entertained by her love and knowledge of pie and its ability to bring people together, offer comfort and heal. I preordered Ms. American Pie and just finished reading it. My thoughts are: first, Beth's relatable, humor filled writing style is easy to read. I loved the stories she weaves into her narrative about each pie. Second the size of the book is a nice surprise, its bigger than a novel hardcover would be. Third the pictures are beautiful and the pies look mouth watering. The recipes are not intimidating, but doable. Now I will admit I haven't made any of them yet except the apple which is excellent. Beth includes not only her own pie recipes, but many award winners as well, and old recipes handed down through families, and I can't wait to try them. There are quite a variety of pie recipes, including fruit pies, cream pies, custard pies, savory pies, and little mini pies and hand pies. This would make a great gift to anyone who likes to bake, or for a bridal shower gift along with a pie plate, rolling pin and a cute apron. I have met Beth at one of her book signing events and she is as nice and unpretentious as you would think from reading this book. Beth has inspired me and a lot of other people to do something simple to show we care, to pay it forward...make pie. And these pies look delicious!!! You will love this book, I did. Buy it.

This is a book, obviously written from the heart, with many great recipes and hints for pie-baking. It has pictures of the pies, as well as pie-baking events, and the American Gothic house where the author lived during part of her creation of this book. The copy I got was used, but very minimally. What is a cookbook to me, but an opportunity to bake? So it will get many sprinkles and stains as I enjoy using it.

Great cookbook except for bent pages and cover

I read Beth ' s book about her journey through loss and how pie helped her heal. I also bought this book. I think both were amazingly helpful in finally understanding how to treat the ingredients so I get a tender crust that holds together. I appreciate Beth's "low-tech" approach. I bought a $300 food processor so I could make crust....but haven't even plugged it in! I'm not great at machines! I like the low-stress, forgiving nature of Beth's instructions. If you have longed to make pies from scratch, I can't recommend this book and her other book The Missing Piece, enough. Also, Google and watch some of her video demonstrations. I almost cried when I rolled out my first crust and was then able to roll it up on my rolling pin to move it to my pie dish. I was jumping up and down in my kitchen! My husband thought I'd gone nuts! I was like, "Look! Look!" And I held up my rolling pin with the crust on it. He said he didn't realize that was the litmus test. IT ABSOLUTELY is the pinnacle! ! I've made several pies since and given them away to friends all with high praise. I've always been able to make cheesecake, cookies, cakes, etc. But there is something so wonderful about giving a homemade pie. Thanks, Beth, for sharing your love and knowledge with the world! I truly appreciate it! !!!

I have been following Beth's blog and FB posts for several years -- about the loss of her husband, about pie-making, about healing thru pie-making, about her Pitchfork Pie stand -- and was hooked. Her writing style really drew me in. I have never made a pie from scratch and Beth kept saying in her posts -- and now in the book -- that it was easy. So I bought Ms. American Pie and added "make a pie from scratch" to the top of my goals for 2015. However, before I could bake my first pie, my husband got hold of Beth's book and beat me to the punch. Since that day he's made three more. He says pie-making brings back wonderful memories of making pie with his grandma. I'm up next and by reading Beth's book I feel confident I can make a pie and it will be easy -- and fun! There are a treasure trove of wonderful recipes in the book and lots and lots of encouraging words for the amateur pie-maker. Love the photos, too.

Mrs. Howard, you are my all time favorite pie hero. I love your story. I love your commitment to channel negative pain into positive pie. I love that you live in the American Gothic house. (My Mom grew up nearby) But best of all I love that you throw all this foo foo pie science out the window. It's fun to bake from your recipes. I collected all the pie shop cookbooks I could find looking for the best recipes and I only use your book. I made your strawberry crumble for my husband and he said it was the best pie he'd ever eaten in his life. Congratulations, dear, on both overcoming adversity and putting out one heck of an all time classic pie cookbook!

I never thought making my own crust was worth it, especially with all the worry about making it tough, etc. I usually skip all the writing on the food blogs and skip straight to the recipe. Beth Howard has converted me to making my own crust, and enjoying it! Her instructions are easy to follow. There are basic pie favorites as well as a few for foodies who like to change things up a bit. The tips are practical, reassuring, and encouraging. Wondering what to do if you have frozen cherries instead of fresh? There's a note at the end of the recipe! Obsessing about how the crust looks? Beth assures you pie isn't about perfection; it should look homemade. And the stories are short and just right. I started to skip them, food blog style, then went back and enjoyed them.

Wonderful and interesting book, full of inspiration, sadness and recipes. A perfect combination. You were willing Beth on all of the way through.

li do solo un 4 perche le riccete che li da,sono anche su internet,ma va bene ,comunque e bello, libro su pies che mi piace di piu...sweetie licious pies.