Pennsylvania & Shoofly Pie

It wasn’t long after Lidia’s arrival in the U.S., that she relocated from Astoria, New York, to a small town called Sunbury in central Pennsylvania, located on the Susquehanna river. Lidia had been invited to stay with her maternal aunt with whom she lived for almost a year.

It was her first exposure to small town America, and she loved the rolling hills, mountains, vast open spaces and river views which reminded her of her homeland in Istria, formerly part of Italy. It was in Sunbury that Lidia learned how to cook some Pennsylvania Dutch specialties including shoofly pie, and succotash made with peppers, potatoes and dumplings.

On this trip, Lidia retraces her rural roots in Sunbury by spending time with with family and friends. After visiting some old haunts with her cousin Ann, they call in on Ann's mother Anna, who still lives in Sunbury, and has prepared some favorite family recipes for the occasion.

Lidia and Ann also stop by Ann's friend John, who is a backyard brick-oven baker. They share a delicious pizza fresh from the oven, and Lidia reminisces about bread making traditions in her childhood home in Istria.

Next, Lidia visits Lancaster County in rural Pennsylvania, home to the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish people. To spark the holiday spirit, Lidia goes to Bethlehem, known for its holiday celebrations and decorations. There she meets Bonnie Boyer, who is locally renowned for her Pennsylvania Dutch recipes; she has the reputation for making some of the best shoofly pie in the area. Bonnie and her grandson Adam show Lidia how to make shoofly pie.

Lidia Makes Shoofly Pie in Pennsylvania

Lidia recalls how she used to think "shoofly" pie had something to do with shoes! Bonnie explains that her recipe has been handed down, from her grandmother to her mother, and on to her. The memories come flooding back to Lidia, as she takes her first bite.