Pie

Pies are a filled, baked pastry dish, distinguished from quiches and tarts by the presence of a topcrust.

Types of pie

Many things have been historically put into pies, such as "four-and-twenty-blackbirds", referring to the old rhyme of the same name. Meat, fish, fruit, lard, vegetables or even cheese, almost anything that is solid enough not to seep out during the baking process may be used.

• Steak and kidney pie is a traditional meat-based recipe.
• Pork pie is traditionally served cold.
• Apple pie
• Stargazy pie, a traditional Cornish dish is made with sardines.
• Shepherd's pies are made with minced lamb and vegetables.
• Cottage pies contain minced beef and vegetables.

Cream pie

A cream pie is a type of pie usually made of firmer versions of dessert-style puddings. It is a typically American dessert. The filling is a rich custard made with flour and/or cornflour, eggs and milk. This custard is clearly related to the French crème patissière which is used as a filling for various French cakes and tarts. Crème patissière is the usual filling for the traditional French birthday cake, Gâteau St Honoré, which consists of a ring of custard-filled cream puffs on a sweet biscuit (American: cookie) base, the centre filled with more custard.

A timely variation of a regular cream pie is the Cherry Cream Pie. Typically it's the visual impression of a female's vulva after completing unprotected intercourse during her monthly menstrual cycle.