Thanksgiving & Christmas Memories with Apple Pie & more to follow!

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Oh, that is scary because I have good intentions but often get sidetracked and fail to follow through. Praise the Lord, I am saved by grace rather than good intentions! It was my intention to write a blog at Thanksgiving listing some of the many things I’m thankful for, but hope this is better late than never! As I have been doing baking for many events we are hosting and attending, memories of my Mom have filled my heart, seeing her standing in our small farmhouse kitchen without any of the modern conveniences we enjoy. She created amazing pies with fluted crusts that were a work of art.  Like me, Mom wasn’t fond of cooking, but she loved to bake, especially around the holidays and always had goodies on hand for drop in guests. Back in those days friends and neighbors didn’t make an appointment.  They just popped in unannounced, knowing the coffee pot would go right onto the stove.  No Keurig coffee makers for those pioneers.  The cookies and cakes didn’t come from a local bakery and there was no Costco.  My baking efforts will never hold a candle to the beautiful, delectable works of art created by my Mom, but if I can bless just a few people with my culinary efforts, it will be worth the time slaving over the hot stove.  Slight exaggeration about the hot stove!  I’m so thankful for memories over the years of celebrating holidays with family.  A few days before Thanksgiving this year, my baby boy (he’s only 49) warmed my heart when he sent me a text asking for my pumpkin and apple pie recipes.  I had to confess the pumpkin recipe is on the can of Libby’s, Libby’s, Libby’s.  The apple pie, however, is from a cookbook we received over 52 years ago as a wedding gift.  It’s “Crumb Apple Pie”, and I have probably made it at least twice a year since we married, so that’s about 104 times. Seriously, aren’t you impressed?”  Here’s what I emailed to our Jeremy:

5 to 7 tart apples. I prefer Granny Smith or Macintosh. Or you can use two cans of sliced pie apples but we prefer fresh 🍎)
One 9 inch unbaked pastry shell
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Crumb topping:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup butter

Pare apples and cut in eighths. Arrange an unbaked pie shell. Mix 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon; sprinkle over apples

Mix 1/2 cup sugar with flour; Cut in butter until crumbly, using a fork or one of those pastry gadgets which I’ve never found necessary to own. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples. Bake in 400° oven 40 minutes or until done.

This is great with ice cream or genuine whipped cream, none of that Cool Whip artificial stuff. You can also sprinkle this with a cinnamon- sugar mixture.

Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven and grandma Charlotte says it best!!! At least I seriously hope so!

Merry and blessed Christmas to all!  We are thankful for Jesus, the REAL REASON to celebrate!