For National Blueberry Pie Day, April 28th, how about a slab pie (photo #1)?

A slab pie is a pie that has been sized to fit a rectangular baking pan instead of a round pie pan (it’s been called the pie version of a sheet cake).

Cut into squares or rectangles instead of triangular slices, a slab pie creates more pieces than a standard round pie. It can typically serve twice as many people.

You follow all the same steps as with a regular pie; you just need more crust.

> The history of blueberries.

> The history of pie.

> The history of pie à la mode.

> The different types of pie: a photo glossary.

> How to fix runny fruit pies.

> The year’s 11 blueberry holidays.

> The year’s 31 pie holidays.

> The year’s 35+ berry holidays are below.
 
 
RECIPE: BLUEBERRY SLAB PIE

If you can’t get fresh berries (or they’re too pricey, substitute 2 packages (12 ounces each) frozen blueberries, thawed and drained (about 5 cups).

You can of course make your own crust instead of using store-bought.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F. Remove 2 of the pie crusts from the pouches, unroll, and stack on lightly floured surface. Roll to a 17×12-inch rectangle.

2. FIT the crust into an ungreased 15″x10″x1″ pan, pressing it into the corners. Do not trim pie crust edges. (If your baking pan is larger, add more fresh berries to the filling.)

3. MIX the blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and lemon peel in large bowl, until well combined. Spoon into the crust-lined pan.

4. UNROLL and stack the remaining 2 pie crusts on the lightly floured surface. Roll to a 17″x12″ rectangle.

5. MAKE the lattice top: Cut 1/2″-wide strips with a pastry cutter or knife. Place half of the strips across the pan diagonally. Weave the remaining strips with the first strips to form a lattice. Trim the edges of the strips to be even with edge of bottom crust.

6. PINCH the edges of crust together to seal, tucking under pastry crust, if necessary. Flute or crimp the edges. Brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons sugar.

7. BAKE for 35 to 40 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
 
 

 
 
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*The original recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of sugar but unless you like things quite sweet, you can cut back to 1/4 or 1/3 unless the berries are tart.

**You can use orange or mandarin zest if you prefer, and regardless of the citrus, add a drop of lemon or orange extract. We also added 1/4 teaspon vanilla extract.

†Substitute: You can use 2 tablespoons of sanding sugar instead of the granulated sugar for a more aesthetic effect and crunch. Check out the different types of sugar in our Sugar Glossary.

‡Please note that because so many different foods contain berries (breakfast recipes, beverages, desserts, etc.), this list limits itself to occasions with “berry” in the name.

‡‡Bilberry Sunday is the Sunday closest to the Gaelic Harvest Festival, Lughnasadh, which is the last weekend last weekend of July or the first weekend of August), people across Gaelic communities would celebrate Bilberry Sunday. Here’s more about it.

Bilberries and blueberries are members of the same genus, Vaccinium. Blueberries (photo #4) are native to North America, in several species including Vaccinium myrtilloides, V. angustifolium, and V. corymbosum. Bilberries (photos #5 and #6, Vaccinium myrtillus) are also native to the northern U.S. and Canada, as well as to northern parts of Europe and Asia. Up to a fifth of Sweden’s total land area is carpeted by bilberry bushes! Bilberries are smaller and have a richer flavor than blueberries.

[1] Once you bake a slab pie, you may never go back to round pies. Slabs are easier to slice and provide twice the servings for the same amount of effort (photo and recipe © Pillsbury).

[2] How about a purple crust to match the blueberries? Here’s the recipe (photo © Raiza Costa Dulcr Delight).

[3] A deconstructed blueberry pie: food fun with all the flavor. Here’s the recipe (photo © Linda Anctil).

[4] A bowl of blueberries, which are indigenous to North America (photo © Vino Li | Unsplash).

[5] Bilberries look like blueberries, but are smaller (photo © Plantex) | ChatGPT 2025-04-28).

[6] Bilberries at a farmstand (photo © Clarita | Morguefile).

[7] Some blueberry ice cream to go with your pie. Here’s the recipe (photo © Driscoll’s).

[8] How about a Blueberry Mimosa with your pie? Here’s the recipe (photo © Gelson’s Market).

[9] Ready to bake? (photo ChatGPT 2025-04-28).

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[1] National Prime Rib Day is April 27th (photo © Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar).

[2] National Crown Roast Of Pork Day is March 7th (photo © Harry & David).

[3] Want something simpler? National Meatball Day is March 9th (photo © Il Ritorno | St. Petersburg).

[4] After you’ve paid your taxes, you may have enough left to celebrate National Spiral Ham Day, April 15th (photo © Smithfield Foods).

[5] National Duckling Month, May, was created to celebrate all the delicious duckling dishes. In the photo is cassoulet, a classic French confit of duck with beans (photo © Bar Boulud | NYC).

[6] Hoping to drum up turkey business after the holidays, June is Turkey Lovers’ Month and the third Sunday is national Turkey Lovers’ Day (photo © Gelson’s Market).

[7] July is National Hot Dog Month, and the 3rd Wednesday is National Hot Dog Day. The all-American hot dog was inspired by a German sausage (photo © Applegate Farms).

[8] National Filet Mignon Day is August 13, celebrating the most tender cut of beef (photo © Ruth’s Chris Steak House).

[9] September is National Chicken Month (photo © Corto Olive | Facebook).

[10] A mincemeat pie (a.k.a. mince pie) is filled with spiced minced meat and other ingredients. National Mincemeat Day is October 26th; the pie is especially popular for Thanksgiving and Christmas (photo © Pillsbury).

April 27th is National Prime Rib Day, which got us to thinking about meat, the American diet, and our ancestors—not Great Grandma and Great Grandpa, but way, way back to the primates from whom we descend.

> You can skip to the meat holidays, below.

Why, we asked, are some primates herbivores while others—like us—are omnivores (eating both plant and animal foods)?

So we did what anybody sitting at a computer would do: We looked it up. Specifically, we asked our great editorial assistant, Claude.ai.

The insights follow, but first, elsewhere on The Nibble, explore your favorite meats in our photo glossaries:

> The different types of bacon.

> The different cuts of beef.

> The different cuts of chicken.

> The different types of duck.

> The different types of ham.

> The different cuts of lamb.

> The different cuts of pork.

> The different types of ribs.

> The different breeds of turkey.
 
 
WHY HUMANS ARE CARNIVORES

Claude reminded us that Homo sapiens (modern humans‡) are the most common and widespread species of primate—and the last surviving species of the genus Homo.

 
And that’s why we eat meat.

 
Human meat-eating likely evolved for several reasons:

 
With the growing emphasis on the longevity benefits of vegetarianism, animal rights, and the impact of raising food animals on the environment, we personally try to eat like a chimp: more plant foods and less animal-based foods.

But our world is an omnivore world, and here are all the meat holidays to prove it:
 

 
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*Orthodox Meatfare Sunday is the last day Orthodox Christians can eat meat until ‘Pascha’ or Easter.

**What is Mincemeat? It’s a spiced meat primarily used in pies but also in other preparations, such as cakes, muffins, tarts, and even as a topping for ice cream and porridge. It arose in the 15th century, when meat was preserved with fruits and spices—particularly cinnamon, cloves, and mace—wine and vinegar (later, brandy and other distilled spirits). Chopped nuts were also added to the minced meat. In England, mince pie became a traditional Yuletide treat.

By the 19th century, raisins, apples, and candied lemon peel were added to the recipe. In the 20th century, any similar recipe, including vegetarian versions, came to be referred to as mincemeat. During the 20th century, mincemeat pie (mince pie) was added to the Thanksgiving table, where can be served with cheese (like apple pie). If the combination sounds strange to you (i.e., mince pie filling or mince pie with cheese), try it: It’s quite tasty!

†Isn’t “Eat an Animal for PETA” an oxymoron? Yes, on purpose: The holiday was established by people who disdained the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). They found harm in their aggressive ad campaigns (one likened killing animals to the Holocaust). Hypocritical in their operations, PETA animal shelters have a very high rate of euthanizing the animals in care care. So on this day, participants are encouraged to eat eating animal products for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

†††Eat Flexitarian Day encourages the incorporation of more plant-based protein into one’s diets without eliminating the option to eat meat. The difference between vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and other food practices.

‡Our first ancestor to walk upright, Homo erectus, appeared about 1.9-1.8 million years, with advanced toolmaking and controlled use of fire. The older, first member of the Homo genus is Homo habilis, emerging around 2.4-1.5 million years ago. They were among the first known makers of simple stone tools. Homo erectus appeared about 2 million years ago and spread throughout Africa. Homo sapiens, anatomically modern humans, emerged 300,000 to 200,000 years ago in Africa. Homo neanderthalensis, Neanderthals, emerged around the same time in Europe and Western Asia. To go way back, our chimp and bonobo ancestors diverged around 5.7–11 million years from the hominin lineage (all species that existed prior to this split are extinct). Here’s more about our predecessors, who are known as archaic humans.
 

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If you’re looking for an especially tasty gift for someone who loves coconut, you can’t do better than Michelle’s Maccs.

They handmade, gourmet treats are gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free (except for Hazelnut and Peanut Butter, which are baked in dedicated pans).

All-natural and enrobed in one of the world’s finest couverture chocolate, Belgium’s Callebaut, they’re baked to order.

We are in heaven with each bite.
 
 
EXCEPTIONAL FLAVORS
 
There are the basics with plain coconut (photo #5):

 
And these may be the best “classics” you’ll ever taste.

Yet Michelle is a master at flavoring macaroons, which leads to the challenge:

How can one select from all these great flavors? Two solutions:

 
Even so, if you’re a connoisseur of everything delicious—but not wealthy enough to buy everything at once—you’ve got to prioritize. In alphabetical order, take your pick:

 
PARTY IDEA: For Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or any party time: How To Pair Macaroon Flavors & Beer.
 
GET YOUR MICHELLE’S MACCS!

They’re sold in packs of 4 or 12.

And they can be customized for parties and special events.

Use code GIFT4MOM at checkout for complimentary gift packaging (choose the gift option and then apply the code).

The line is certified kosher by United Kosher Supervision (UKS).

> Head to MichellesMaccs.com.

Note: Michelle advises that the macaroons should be eaten within a week. Otherwise refrigerate them.

They can also be frozen, if you’re a one-piece-a-day enthusiast, as we are.

From our experience, you can keep them for longer than a week in the fridge, without freezing. The coconut becomes less moist, but they’re still delicious.
 
 
> The history of macaroons and macarons, and how they differ.

> The history of cookies.

> The 11 basic cookie styles.

> The different types of cookies: a photo glossary.

> The year’s 44 cookie holidays (National Macaroon Day is May 31st).

> How to keep cookies fresher for longer.
 

[2] Mango Maccs are a tropical flavor duo.

[3] Espresso Maccs.

[4] Pumpkin Spice Macaroons.

[5] Raspberry Blackout Macaroons.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.