Shoofly Pie

Around since the 1880s, the Pennsylvania Dutch have been making Shoofly pie. This is, essentially, a pecan pie without the Pecans. The term Pennsylvania Dutch encompasses a fair number of religious groups including the German baptists or Dunkers. Now enter my strange relatives, Pennsylvanian Dutch and Dunkers, followed Conrad Beissel to the Ephrata Cloisters in 1732. At the cloisters there were two groups: A celibate group of about 80 that spent their time sleeping on hard wooden beds, creating hymns and waiting for Jesus to return. This celibate group were celibate so not too many decedents remain with the final member dying in 1812. My family were the part of the 200 householders who grew and prepared the food and created a world for the other 80. The cloisters are a part of the Pennsylvania State Park system and a fascinating place to visit. Every time I eat a bite of things like Shoofly pie or apple dumplings, I think of the cloisters and how very strange my relatives truly were…