As America turns 250, we’re celebrating the traditions that still bring us together: family dinners, county fairs, and a warm slice of homemade pie.
At the Machine Shed, we’re honoring America’s 250th birthday with a timeless favorite … homemade pie.
Honoring America’s Story Through Food and Tradition
As our country prepares to mark this historic milestone, we’re celebrating one of the most beloved symbols of American life: pie.
At the Shed, we believe America’s story is best told through its food, families, and farm-to-table traditions, and nothing represents that better than a warm slice of homemade pie shared around the table.
Stars, Stripes & Slices: Our 250th Celebration Promotion
To celebrate, we’re launching our “Stars, Stripes & Slices” pie promotion.
Guests can vote for their favorite pie, and the winning selection will be featured throughout July for just $2.50 per slice, a sweet salute to America’s 250th birthday.
The History of Pie in America
Pie has long been part of American life. Early settlers brought pie traditions from Europe and adapted them using local fruits and ingredients found across the Midwest.
Over time, pie evolved from a practical, crust-based staple into a beloved dessert and one that now represents home, family, and celebration.
Today, pie remains at the center of American gatherings – from Thanksgiving tables to county fairs, Sunday dinners, and small-town restaurants across the Midwest.
Midwest Pie Traditions at Machine Shed
At Machine Shed, we carry on that tradition every day with our 11-inch homemade pies, baked fresh with the care you’d expect from a farmhouse kitchen.
Each pie is made to be shared because that’s what Midwest hospitality is all about.
State Fairs, Blue Ribbons, and Classic Flavors
Nowhere is pie more celebrated than at the state fair. Across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, bakers compete for blue ribbons using family recipes passed down through generations.
Apple, cherry, peach, and cream pies each take center stage with every slice telling its own story.
Americans eat more than 180 million pies each year, and apple pie remains one of the most iconic desserts in the country. The phrase “as American as apple pie” grew popular during World War II, when soldiers said they were fighting “for Mom and apple pie.”
Celebrate America’s 250th with Us
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we invite you to be part of the tradition.
Share your favorite pie flavors and memories with us as we honor a dessert that has brought people together for centuries.
Because at the end of the day, America’s story isn’t just history—it’s shared around tables, passed through generations, and served one slice of pie at a time.
Machine Shed Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
- 7–10 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Crumb Topping
- ¾ cup flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup butter
Directions
- Prepare the Filling
Preheat oven to 400°F. In a bowl, mix apples with sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and melted butter. Stir until evenly combined. Place mixture into a 9-inch pie crust. - Make the Crumb Topping
Mix flour, brown sugar, and nutmeg. Cut in butter using a fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over the top of the pie. - Bake
Cover pie loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20–25 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Remove and enjoy!
(Recipe from the Machine Shed Cookbook, currently available in all Machine Shed gift shops.)
Written by The Farmhouse Friend