vitalwholeness

We were starting our day in a most pleasurable way, eating at one of the most iconic establishments in Columbia, Missouri, the Broadway Diner. Somewhere between the biscuits and gravy and hot coffee, we chatted up owner and master of hospitality, David Johnson. As we spoke of grandchildren and happenings in our rivertown of Rocheport, Kathy’s eye fell on the fresh baked pies resting on the counter. “Where do those pies come from?” Kathy asked. “I bake them,” answered David. And so he does. Dave loves baking pies. The next batch were to be out on the cooling rack in a half hour. “This pie is a special one, the USS Missouri Buttermilk pie,” he said. We believed him. My fork dropped out of my hand into the plate. What’s the story behind that?

It seems that Chris, David’s wife, enjoys eating the pies David bakes as much as he loves baking them. So she sent him a recipe right out of Midwest Living Magazine (Aug 11, 2011). The article told the story of the pie and, most importantly, included the recipe. What was the story?

Once when President Harry Truman boarded the USS Missouri, the pie the steward served was the ship’s famous Buttermilk pie. Truman loved it so much he asked for the recipe. Alas, that request was not to be satisfied. The recipe was property of the US Navy and Truman left without a way to have the pie made elsewhere. Until, that is, the steward retired from the Navy. When he did, right before heading down the gang plank, he tucked the recipe for the USS Missouri Buttermilk Pie in his pocket. Shortly after, Harry Truman received a recipe in the mail. You guessed it, the recipe for the Buttermilk Pie. And that’s how a shipboard secret made it out into the world, to Harry Truman, and finally to David Johnson at the Broadway Diner.

All I can tell you is that the Buttermilk pie melts in your mouth just like Harry Truman said it did. You can smell it all the way down North Delaware Street in Independence until you arrive at the home where Harry was able to have one more bite of the famous USS Missouri Buttermilk pie.

You can drop by and have a bite of Dave’s. Or, more daring, make your own. Here you go:

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
• 1 recipe Pastry for Single-Crust Pie
• ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted

Directions

Bake in a 300 degree F oven for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until the buttermilk filling is set. Cool. Store pie in the refrigerator. Makes 8 servings.

In a large bowl, gradually beat sugar into softened butter with an electric mixer, beating until mixture is well blended.

Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Combine flour and salt. Gradually beat flour mixture into butter mixture.

Beat in buttermilk until mixture is well blended. Pour into the Pastry for Single-Crust Pie.

Sprinkle pecans over the filling in piecrust.