Before preparing the pies, it is a good idea to take orders for the types of pies you plan to make. This way you will make enough with a few extras to sell to those who did not get to place an order. This will also help in not making too many and not being able to sell them.

For approximately ten pies: Rinse one pound of dried peaches or apples. Place in a large, heavy pot with a tight lid like a dutch oven. Cover the fruit with water an dcook over medium heat until tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. You may also spray the pot with vegetable spray t help prevent sticking.

Mash the cooked fruit with a potato masher or ricer. Add one and one-half to two cups of sugar (to suit your taste). Cook over low heat, uncovered, for a few minutes after adding the sugar-just until the sugar is dissolved. Remember that a fruit mixture will thicken as it cools to room temperature. Refrigerate until the day to make the pies.

On a well-floured board roll out one large fluffy style biscuit to approximately eight inches in diameter. Place two tablespoons of fruit mixture in the center of the biscuit. Fold the biscuit in half so the edges are even. (You may need to stretch a bit here and there. Be careful not to tear the biscuit.) Seal the edges of the crust with the prongs of a floured fork.

Heat shortening to hot in a skillet. (A regular electric skillet will hold three pies at one time.) Carefully place the pies in the skillet. Fry until lightly browned on one side, then turn to brown the other side. Remove and drain the pies on several thicknesses of paper towels. (Suggestion: You will use less paper towels if you will use folded newspapers under a double layer of paper towels. Discard the papers and replace as they become saturated with fat.)

For mixed fruit pies, mix one package of each kind of fruit: or, you may have small amounts of fruits as you work that you may wish to mix together.

Of course, if you have someone who can make homemade crust for your pies, they will be so much better.

Recipe for Chocolate Fried Pies (for 10 pies)

1/2 C. Powdered chocolate milk

1 1/2 C. sugar

1/2 stick margarine

2 Tbsp. Flour

1 large can evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

1. Melt margarine. Mix together all remaining ingredients except the vanilla in a large microwaveable bowl.
2. Add the margarine to other ingredients and microwave for 5 minutes on high.
3. Remove from microwave and stir. Return and cook 5 more minutes. The mixture should start to thicken. Remove and stir again. If the mixture is not thick like a pudding, cook a little longer.
4. When mixture is thick, add vanilla. Cool over-night.
5. To make the pies, (Follow directions above for fruit pies.)
6. Fry in hot shortening in a shallow skillet or a deep fat fryer. Drain well on paper towels.