Pink Lemonade Pie and the Fancy Bridge Ladies

July 17, 2011 by Jackie Garvin 54 Comments

One summer, in the mid 1960s during one of my visits to my grandparent’s house in Alabama, my aunt from Baton Rouge came for a visit, also. My Aunt Ellen was my mother’s only sister. Actually, she was my mother’s only sibling. My grandmother’s first child was a boy who didn’t survive birth. Aunt Ellen was next and my mother followed 10 years later. We didn’t get to see Aunt Ellen very often because she lived in a another state. Prior to the interstate system being completed and cars being equipped with air conditioners, car travel in the deep South in the summer wasn’t enjoyable. What is a short trip now, was a long, hard trip then.

My mother always looked up to her older sister and I was well aware of that. Life seemed to be much easier for them than it was for us. I have no idea how close my perception mirrored reality. I thought my aunt was fancy because her short sets matched and she always had new shoes. She was poised, graceful and made interesting and engaging comments. She lived in a world that I only imagined. A fancy world.

As we sat at the kitchen table, Aunt Ellen told Granny of this pretty pink pie she had made for her Bridge group. I was starry-eyed. Being impressed by her matching short sets and new shoes took backseat to the knowledge that she was fancy enough to belong to a Bridge group. I had only heard of the game of Bridge on TV but didn’t know anyone personally who belonged to such a high-life group. Aunt Ellen was fancier that I had ever imagined. And she had fancy ladies come to her house. I was sure they all showed up on Bridge day wearing pillbox hats just like Jacqueline Kennedy. Some surely wore fur collars on their dresses.

I refocused on the conversation as Aunt Ellen explained to Granny that the pie is simple and only has 4 ingredients. You buy a premade graham cracker crust. Then you mix thawed pink lemonade concentrate with “Eagle Brand” and the acid in the lemonade cooks the milk. That sounded so scientific to me. Not only was my aunt fancy, she was a scientist. The next step is to fold in “Cool Whip” . Aunt Ellen emphasized, “You must use pink lemonade concentrate to get the right color. What the ladies enjoyed the most about pie was the pretty pink color.”

Granny couldn’t get to the store quick enough to get the ingredients to make this pie. She wanted me to make it for her and I was happy to oblige. I remembered Aunt Ellen’s instructions because I think I hung on every word she said. The pie was just as perfect as I thought one of her dishes would be. Granny and I made that pie a lot that summer. I felt like I was part of Aunt Ellen’s fancy world.

Some years later, I realized that the “Eagle Brand” didn’t need to be cooked. You can eat that stuff right out of the can. I didn’t become disillusioned about Aunt Ellen’s scientific knowledge but was willing to accept that as the only mistake she ever made.

My aunt is in her 80s now and she has outlived her mother and her sister. Unfortunately, she has dementia and is in declining health. I wish I could make this pretty pink pie for her, buy her a matching shorts set and some new shoes. Some things should just never change.

Y’all come see us!

Pink Lemonade Pie

After 40 plus years of making this sweet, simple pie, I’ve never grown tired of it. It is light, refreshing and perfect for summer. I still don’t play Bridge, but I’ve served this pie to many different people. I’ve never had anyone who didn’t like it. I was a young girl of 8 or 9 when I made this for the first time. This recipe is perfect for children. Get them in the kitchen with you and have them make this pretty pink pie. Forty years from now, they may write a story about it.

Pink

1 prepared graham cracker crust

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

6 0z. frozen PINK lemonade concentrate, thawed

8 oz. whipped topping, thawed

Mix PINK lemonade and sweetened condensed milk. Fold in whipped topping making sure it is well incorporated. Pour into pie crust. Chill for 4 hours or until firm.

Mix sweetened condensed milk and PINK lemonade.

Fold in whipped topping. Make sure it’s well incorporated. Pour into pie crust. Chill for at least 4 hours or until it’s firm

Here’s to you, Aunt Ellen!

Cook’s note: The original post was published in 2011. In May 2015 , I updated my photos of a freshly made pie. The color is decidedly different and only shows the tiniest hint of pink. Perhaps the coloring in the pink lemonade is different. At any rate, it tastes the same and the pie is still a big hit. Maybe the color has switched from Blushing to Bashful. Only die-hard Steel Magnolia fans will understand the reference. Give me shout out if you caught it!

Pink Lemonade Pie. A no-bake, three ingredient pie in a premade graham cracker crust.

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