Buttermilk Pie for the 4th of July

Half the nation is in extreme drought conditions.  I happen to be in the other half.  We're at the lake and going stir crazy, it's rained 15 inches this week and no one can get outside; no boating, tennis, golf or hiking.  Mildew is in the air and my eyelids are starting to puff. This is the biggest weekend of the year here and it's a bust this go round.  Fireworks, concerts and picnics cancelled.  Every one's house is packed with family and guests and, I expect, in spite of card games, jig saw puzzles and TV, happy hour starts pretty early.  Thankfully, we are invited to an annual big covered dish event by the lake where the host (one of my "Giants", see 5/9/13 post) prepares all the fried chicken, ribs, etc. and the guests bring everything else. It's an epic feast.  Despite the rain, she's determined to go on with the show with a bunch of tents.  It's required a great deal of effort and engineering.  Everyone is dressed in full rain gear and determined to get out of the house.  I've never seen so many people look happy to huddle under drippy tents and drink and eat.  The children are running around barefoot in the deluge in a reprieve from confinement. They are at that age where jumping in mud puddles is such fun so I jumped in one myself just to bring out my inner child.  Heck, who cares if you get wet today?

Usually, I make peach cobbler for the 4th but I changed my mind since I had some buttermilk left from the cucumber soup and the weather's too bad to get to the roadside stands to get peaches, if they're even open.  Buttermilk pie is one of my favorites and it is the definitive "easy as pie".

1 unbaked regular pie shell (not deep dish)
1/2 stick melted butter, slightly cooled
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tbls all purpose flour
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, beat the eggs, then add sugar and flour and mix well. Add the melted butter, then buttermilk and vanilla. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until lightly browned on top.  Cool completely before serving. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.