Thanks fetish1 (hugs dear) and doll
I can't use any alcohol for the pie and I really don't want to wait 2 weeks, but next try I will be adding figs and orange peel, and turning the heat down 50 degrees and cooking for a bit longer.
And if that doesn't work, it'll be pre bake everything, and simply assemble everything and bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
It's not like the 3 I've made didn't turn out to be edible, just not what I remembered from my Grandma's house.
It's almost like I have the numbers for the combination lock, I just don't know the exact order.. LOL