Aunt Bee: “Now remember, first you eat the sandwich and then you eat the apple pie. Not the apple pie and then the sandwich. You understand?”

Opie: “Yeah, I understand. Even if it don’t seem right.”

Aunt Bee: “Why doesn’t it seem right?”

Opie: “Well, if you get full before you finish, I’d sure rather leave over the sandwich than the pie.”

Yep, Opie was definitely on to something.

Who doesn’t yearn for the return of Mayberry, particularly Aunt Bee, with her warm, bustling, everyday baking and housekeeping? When Andy came home from a long day at the sheriff’s office – worn out from Barney’s antics, small town politics, bank robbers on the lam, or the occasional traveling huckster – Aunt Bee was always there to let him know there was leftover homemade apple pie waiting for him in the kitchen.

Then there was the neighbors and other community folk, whether they were welcome or not. When the infamous Darlings descended on her home, Aunt Bee just set her face like flint, headed to the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and cheerfully got at the business of preparing a feast fit for that army of silent, hungry mountain men.

Lunch at the office? Aunt Bee hand delivered a delicious lunch to Andy and Barney at the courthouse every single day, even if she had to hurry back home to tend to the cakes in the oven for the church social.

Somebody sick? Aunt Bee never failed to whip up some hot homemade soup for the patient.

Pickles and jam, anyone? Aunt Bee’s cupboard was stocked with the stuff, and she freely shared it, even if Andy and Barney couldn’t bring themselves to tell her the pickles tasted like “kerosene cucumbers.” But hey… let’s not get too distracted from the topic of pie.

Aunt Bee’s selfless act of baking pies is a heartwarming reminder of life’s simple joys. It was the little she could do right in front of her, and a mighty important way of contributing to the well-being of the Mayberry community. As the domestic heart of the Taylor household, her cooking and baking were central to her, and she used these skills charitably to express her generosity. That’s no small thing.

Ready to follow in the footsteps of Aunt Bee and other great ones? Simply check out the pie recipe below or choose your favorite, then share the love with someone in your community.

Aunt Bee’s Famous Apple Pie (circa 1962)

1/2 cup butter
4 ounces cream cheese
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sliced apples (Granny Smith for tartness; Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Golden for balance)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter

Combine 1/2 cup of butter and the cream cheese in a large bowl and let it come to room temperature. Add 2 cups of flour and blend well. Chill. Roll out half of the dough and place in a 9-inch pie pan. Reserve the remaining dough for the top crust.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour the mixture into the crust. Roll out the remaining dough and place over the filling. Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake at 350º in the oven for 45 minutes. Serves 6-8, preferably served with a generous dollop of extra creamy vanilla ice cream.