Nanny’s Oatmeal Pie – From Sherry Massey
Today’s post is courtesy of Sherry Massey, who is generously sharing memories of her precious Nanny with us, along with her Oatmeal Pie. Thank you so much, Sherry. I know the rest of the Southern Plate Family will enjoy this post as much as I did. Gratefully, Christy
I didn’t see my grandmother, Audrey May Cox, often as a child. My sister and I spent one week each summer with her and we visited briefly a few other times during the year, holidays and such.
There are so many things I remember fondly about those summers. Lots of time to play with cousins, sitting at her red 1950s dinette table, running my hands over the lovely wood of the armoire that sat in the hall, listening to her clock chime on the hour and sleeping with the windows open – something we didn’t do in the city with central air conditioning. She made for each of us grandkids – her little chickens, as she called us – a Dutch Doll quilt top and a crochet throw. I still have both.
One weekend, after I was grown and no longer living with my parents, we had all gathered at Nanny and Granddaddy’s house. She had made oatmeal pie, one of my favorite desserts and I asked her if I could copy the recipe. I’ll never forget her words, “Here honey, just take this, I can make it from memory.” She handed me a heavily creased and just a little stained piece of notebook paper with the recipe written in her own hand. I still have that, too. I’ve made that pie time and again over the years and always get rave reviews from friends enjoying it for the first time.
When I pull out Nanny’s recipe, summer memories come flooding back and I see her soft smile and hear her voice one more time.
Servings: 4
Calories: 170kcal
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. cloves
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
- 1 unbaked pie shell
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar together. Add cinnamon, cloves and salt. Stir in syrup. Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each until well blended. Stir in rolled oats. Pour in pie shell. Bake about 1 hour or until knife comes out clean when inserted in middle.
Nutrition
Calories: 170kcal
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. cloves
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 cup dark corn syrup
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
- 1 unbaked pie shell
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugar together. Add cinnamon, cloves and salt. Stir in syrup. Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each until well blended. Stir in rolled oats. Pour in pie shell. Bake about 1 hour or until knife comes out clean when inserted in middle.
Nutrition
“If God had intended us to follow recipes, He wouldn’t have given us grandmothers.”
This story brings tears to my eyes…. so many of my Nana’s recipes died with her, some i’ve been able to recreate, others are lost forever.
Sandi, I feel the same way. My beloved Mama Long died when I was only 12 and she had lived with us all of my life. There has not been a Christmas that I do not taste, visualize and remember the joy she had making her Canadian Warcake. It was the most delicious thing ever! She only made 2 a year – one for her family get-together for Christmas and one that stayed hidden just for me!!!
I wish i had the talent to recreate it. I have googled it and found some but not brave enough to try it. Maybe this year I will! Merry Christmas!
What a sweet story from your memories. Reading your story reminded me so much of my grandma too. I have never heard of oatmeal pie, but it sounds delicious andwhen I make it I will have fond memories of reading your story. 🙂 Thanks for sharing with all of us 🙂
Love the story! When it became painfully clear that my Gramma wouldn’t be able to bake/cook much longer, we kidnapped her for a week and held her hostage at my parents house. (She lived in a different city.) She didn’t have any of her recipes written down anywhere. Everyday that week, we picked a recipe..or two and she would would give us the list of ingredients and off to the store my sisters and I would go. When we got back, we video recorded Gramma instructing us in the making of all our favorites. Gramma, ma, daddy, us girls and our kids. Some of the best family “together” memories ever.
What a fanTAStic idea! What a fun week y’all must have had! I love how Southern Plate brings out great family memories. Thanks for sharing!!
WOW, what a fabulous memory! Everyone of us wishes we had listened and participated more in learning the ‘tricks’ our moms & grandmothers used to make some of the favorites. You and your sisters were smart cookies!!!
Oh, thank you! My Granny used to make something similar to make for my family! And as a matter of fact, we used to go “stay a week” in the summers at her house, too. Her house was up on a little rise and the breeze would move through those open windows at night and I KNOW I’ve never had better rest in my life! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Sherry for sharing this recipe and sweet memory with us! Now I know what I’m going to do with the pie shell in my freezer! Yum!
Such a neat story to go with this recipe. I love handwritten recipes, especially when they’re a little stained. It just means that they’ve been used and loved, and are bound to be wonderful!
Does this taste and turn out something like pecan pie when cooked? Its sounds yummy.