The Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram explains how the world-famous Ugly Crust Pies at the Midpoint Cafe on Route 66 in Adrian, Texas, got their name.
The newspaper went straight to the source — pie baker Jo Anne Harwell:
“My grandmother could make a crust that was absolutely a piece of art. Mine are definitely not of that quality. I cannot make them pretty. I keep asking myself how my grandma could make them so perfect. Every time I made a pie I would get this ugly crust.”
One thing in Jo Ann’s defense: her grandmother made only a couple of pies a week. Jo Ann makes five to 10 a day.
“I’m in a hurry and looks don’t matter as long as the taste is good.” She makes the basic pies, such as chocolate, coconut (the biggest seller), pecan and lemon meringue. She also makes some special ones.
“I make a chocolate-peanut butter that is my personal favorite. I created it myself. It’s the one my children request for birthdays. It’s the favorite pie in my family. I also get recipes from people who want me to replicate what their grandmothers or mothers made. So I have a caramel pie, an egg custard pie, and a raisin pie. I make all different kinds of pies.”
I’ll vouch for the chocolate-peanut butter pie. Maybe one of these days I’ll try a few other flavors, if I can bear the thought of tearing myself away from my favorite.