The Big Pie

Gramma getting ready to bake another pie!

My gramma was an angel. She was also the best pie maker in the universe. She taught me how to make pies.

I think of her every time I roll out the dough with her special glass rolling pin and slice up the Gravensteins, Granny Smiths or a combination of three or more varieties of perfect apples.

How do you make such good pies Gramma?

"Well honey, it’s easy...just a little bit of this, a pinch of that, fresh ingredients, don’t handle the dough too much and as long as you’re making a pie — make it BIG.”

She’d give me a smile and I wanted to join in the fun.

So I watched, very closely.

Gramma and Pop taking a time-out.

One time I even took photos and tried to write everything down. The recipes were in her head and her measurements were smell, touch and feel. It was hard to follow, I stopped writing and just kept watching.

She must have made thousands of yummy pies. A lifetime filled with pies.

Here’s a sweet thought: My grandpa had pie everyday for lunch! (Apple, chocolate, blackberry, peach, pear, strawberry rhubarb, mincemeat, pumpkin, cherry, lemon meringue.) 

Pop even had a pie shaped container that fit inside his large, black tin lunch pail. Every single day he had a piece of pie.

Baked with lots of LOVE!

I love making pies but every time I wonder…”Is this going to turn out? Is the crust going to be flaky? Not sweet enough, too sweet."

I guess that’s part of the fun and the magic and mystery of not knowing, waiting for the official taster's approval.

It’s always, a little flour, oh maybe a little more flour, a pinch of salt, a cup or so of milk ... a bit of butter, some lemon, a few more apples, a touch of cinnamon, a tad more butter on top, swirls of honey and the special most important, secret pie ingredient she passed on to me — bake with a lot of Love.

Oh! Don’t forget the ice cream.