THE STATE! gave me so much more.

Georgia, you’re a real

peach!
SWEET TEA PEACH PIE
Georgia is always on my mind. It’s where I really WITH PECAN CRUMBLE
grew up. It’s where I learned I could chug a beer
wicked fast, where I first felt true heartbreak, and THE PIE!
where I honed all the skills I have today—physical, The peach first made its way to the United States ACTIVE TIME: 30 MINUTES — BAKE TIME: 1 HOUR — TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES — MAKES ONE 10-INCH PIE

mental, emotional, and professional. Georgia is
a part of me, remembered with every peach I eat
where the juice runs down my face.
Georgia was named after King George II,
who approved the colony’s charter in 1732. But
the first people arrived in Georgia around 13,000
via Europe: Franciscan monks introduced the fruit
to islands along Georgia’s coast in 1571, where it
flourished in Georgia’s soil and produced the most
detectably sweet strain. This fruit is also linked to
the history of this state: During the Civil War, sol-
diers enticed by the fruit’s deep flavor would pick
CRUST
All-Butter Crust (double, page 000),
rolled out, fit into a greased
10-inch pie pan, crimped, and
frozen (see page 000)
MAKE THE SWEET TEA SYRUP: In a large saucepan, bring
the sugar and water to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the
heat and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the
sugar is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and
add the tea bags and lemon zest strips. Cover and steep for

years ago and by 1,000 BCE, tribes including the
Apalachee, Cherokee, and Chotaw lived there
and still live there today. In 1722 Georgia was
established as the thirteenth colony and in 1788
it became the fourth state.
I have experienced so much of the best this
state has to offer. I’ve floated down the Chat-
tahoochee River, which, just like Alan Jackson
promised, was hotter than a hoochie coochie.
I’ve explored all the corners of Savannah, swam
at Tybee Beach, taken a nap under the trees in
Forsyth Park, and went to the last Riot Fest at the
Masquerade in Atlanta.
And the food! I had never tried grits, biscuits
and gravy, fried green tomatoes, or collard greens
before moving to Savannah, but now I can’t imag-
peaches from the trees surrounding the battlefields, ½ teaspoon all-purpose flour 15 minutes. Strain the mixture then stir in the lemon juice. Set
½ teaspoon granulated sugar aside to cool to room temperature.
and the fruit grown in Georgia became renowned
for its superior taste. The champagne of peaches!
SWEET TEA SYRUP MAKE THE FILLING: In a large bowl, combine the sweet tea
The peach became the state fruit in 1995. But
1/2 cup granulated sugar syrup, peaches, flour, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Set aside
even though Georgia is the Peach State, Georgia’s
1/2 cup water until ready to fill the pie.
most valuable fruit crop is in fact the blueberry,
2 black tea bags
and much of its land is dedicated to peanut farm-
½ lemon, zest removed with MAKE THE CRUMBLE TOPPING: In a medium bowl,
ing. California now produces the most peaches combine the flour, pecans, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix
a vegetable peeler,
in the United States, but nothing tastes as good then lemon juiced well and incorporate the butter until the mixture resembles
as one from Georgia. coarse sand.
For this pie, I wanted to enhance the flavor of PEACH FILLING
peaches with something extra. It had to be sweet 6 to 7 medium ripe peaches, peeled ASSEMBLE AND BAKE THE PIE: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
tea, because almost every meal in the South is and sliced (about 5 cups) Place the frozen crust on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the 1/2
served with sweet tea. Georgia loves sweet tea 1/2 cup all-purpose flour teaspoon flour and sugar on the crust base and swirl around
so much that on April Fool’s Day in 2003, John 1/4 cup cornstarch with your fingers. Fill with the filling and top with the crumble
Noel, a Georgia state representative, and four 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon topping.

ine my life without them. Some of my best food
memories of the state are tied to Back in the Day
Bakery in Savannah, run by Cheryl Day. Cheryl
kept me fed, body and soul, all through college.
Nothing made me happier than stopping in to get
a big coffee and the best chicken salad sandwich
I’ve ever had to power me through my homework.
Cheryl would always let me tell her about my day,
and we have remained friends.
88 I left Hong Kong to make a life for myself
outside of what I was comfortable with. Georgia
co-sponsors tried to introduce House Bill 819, a Bake for 1 hour on the center rack, rotating the pie
CRUMBLE TOPPING clockwise every 15 minutes, until golden brown and you can
proposal to require all Georgia restaurants that
3/4 cup all-purpose flour hear the filling bubbling. Let cool for at least 3 hours before
serve tea to offer sweet tea as an option. The bill
1/2 cup pecan pieces slicing and enjoying. Best served à la mode or with whipped
was an attempt to bring humor to the legislature,
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar cream and enjoyed on the front porch as the breeze blows
but I wouldn’t mind if it became law.
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon through the magnolia trees!
The pie for a state that has become one of 1/
3 cup (
2/
3 stick) unsalted butter,
my many homes is a stewed sweet-tea peach pie
softened
with a brown sugar–pecan crumble. It’s delectably
sweet and oh so charming.
GE OR GI A 89
 THE DEDICATION!

The pie for Georgia is dedicated to my roommate of seven years, my friend since
2008, and the brother I always wanted, Patrick Racheff. Patrick and I met in
college, and we grew close siting in Gallery Espresso in Savannah, drinking tea
and shooting the shit.
Weeks after graduation, Patrick and I packed up a truck and made the big
move to New York together. He knows of all my secrets, and I await the nights out
when we hit the sauce a little hard and end up at a karaoke bar where we will no
doubt do a duet of “Love in This Club” by Usher. He is a talented filmmaker but
most of all he is the best brother a lady could ask for. He’s a real peach!
The pie is also dedicated to everyone I went to college with. Thank y’all for
making me the woman I am today. Thank you to the Savannah College of Art and
Design. I owe my greatest knowledge, my greatest loves, and my greatest friend-
ships to you. Georgia, you are always on my mind…and I carry you in my heart.