The Beauty of Pie.

Thanks so much for all your get-well wishes! I am still hobbling around, adjusting my attitude. I think I will try and work on some Christmas items standing up!!

I know that Thanksgiving is a distant memory and we are hurtling toward Christmas at warp speed, I really wanted to share our pie-baking extravaganza with you.

All directions are courtesy of my friend, Susan. 

(see blog about her amazing gift to Brenna here.)

The day before Thanksgiving, the girls and I grandly brought out the flour, shortening and all mixing bowls required, and soon found ourselves in an Olympic event we were SO not prepared for.

Imagine this:

I'm helping Brenna read through each step as well as figure out measurements with our cool new cups and spoons that have big, bold colorful lettering on them.

Lauren is on the other side of the table, one step behind us and asking me, "What's next, Mom?"

To which I repeat what I have just read with Brenna while simultaneously helping Brenna begin the next step of the recipe.

Not good for one's brain.

Especially if your child(ren) cooks like you do-kinda by the seat of your pants.

this mess on the rolling pin? It makes me laugh every time I see it!

Um, and with great panache. (Code word for big mess, but lots of fun.)

The best part of the experience was when I realized Lauren forgot 2 TBS. of shortening that needed to be cut into the flour. We both looked at each other and shrugged, as she was beyond the point of no return. She continued to spread shortening over the dough and folded it into fourths. We figured she had spread enough "extra" shortening to cover the missing 2TBS. 

I cannot begin to tell you how seeing Susan's directions in her photos and our reality on the table made the three of us realize what novices we are at pie-baking. Who KNEW it was so much work??? Susan's beautiful pie crust was smooth as satin.

Ours? Not so much.

As in we couldn't get it up off the table when it was time to put it in the pie dish. As in we had to start over in rolling out the pie crust before it went into the pie dish. As in we didn't care how it looked once we got it off of the table and figured we could put it together with great "panache" into said pie dish.

I know. Can you believe this???!!

It's all good in the end, though...

Right. Until you get to the filling.

oops.

The pecan pie was a bit easier.

While I seriously doubt we would win any ribbons for our pies, it was truly amazing for us to go from this:

to this:

AND, they were delicious!!!!

Thanks again for everything, Susan. We sure have some great memories!