Today is the birthday of esteemed poet, author, activist Maya Angelou, also a great home cook! We decided to cook something from her cookbook Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes for lunch today. This meat pie recipe was her grandmother’s, Annie Henderson. A single mother with two young sons to feed, Annie made these pies at home, then took them, a coal pot, lard and a fold up chair and set up outside the local lumber and cotton gin mill.  Half an hour before noon she began to fry them and sold the pies for 5 cents each. Imagine the smell wafting! After a few years she built a small hut between the two mills, this later became the store where Maya Angelou grew up. The store remained in use for 60 years in Stamps, Arkansas.

We cut dough circles with 6 inch saucer

Take the time to brown your onions to maximize their sweetness which is a nice counterpoint to the pork’s saltiness.

Folding dough into half moons

Frying the meatpies

We did not expect these to be so delicious. Served with a simple salad and tart vinaigrette, this was the perfect indulgent lunch.

Fried Meat Pies

Makes 8-10 hand pies

Ingredients

1 recipe for buttermilk dough

2 cups cooked shredded pork or chicken
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 medium onions thinly sliced
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup oil for frying

Instructions

To caramelize onions: Put 2 tablespoons add thinly sliced onions and add a dash of salt. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until onions become dark golden brown. Set aside.

Season meat with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes
Place 1 tablespoon of meat on one side of dough circle
Put teaspoon of caramelized onion on meat
Fold dough to make half moon
Seal pie by pressing edges with fork tines
Refrigerate for one hour
Heat oil in cast iron pan
When oil is shimmering gently lower hand pies into oil, flip when golden brown
Drain on paper towels

Notes

 

Adapted from Hallelujah! The Welcome Table by Maya Angelou

Buttermilk Dough

8-10 Handpies / 6 inch diameter

Ingredients

4 cups All-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
6 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
2 cups buttermilk

Instructions

Sift dry ingredients into large bowl
Cut shortening into small pieces and chop into the dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal
Add buttermilk and stir until combined
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and shape into a ball
Roll out to just under 1/4 inch thickness
Cut out circles using small saucer

Shortening makes for a very pliable dough. We wouldn’t recommend substituting with butter.