Monday, June 21, 2010

Apple Pie and Learning to Cook!

In Kelly's blog yesterday she gave a yummy recipe for Peach Cobbler and a great picture.  It reminded me of being 20-years old and newly wed (not all of my memories are bad) and learning to cook.  My first project was to learn to bake an apple pie.  Until then I only knew how to make toast and cook an egg.  I practiced piano 3 hours a day when I was growing up,  which left no time for cooking lessons. There was a little grocery store near campus, and the owner was the sweetest little lady.  I always went to her with my cooking questions.  As I had only seen my mother bake meringue pies where she baked the crust first, I didn't have a clue how to do a fruit pie.  I went into the grocery and asked the little lady how I could bake a top crust and a bottom crust and then get the pie in between the crusts.  The cookbook left out that part!  Without missing a beat or cracking a smile she explained:  roll out the crust, put the bottom crust in first, then put the fruit filling in, put the uncooked top crust on and bake it all at the same time.  I asked, "You mean put the crust in RAW?"  That memory has served me well in remembering that 20-year olds are very young and still have a lot to learn.

6 comments:

  1. People who write cookbooks should remember that nothing should be assumed! I'm glad you had someone to kindly answer your question.

    In answer to your question at my blog... the raw squash was quite good in the chicken salad! I've also eaten it raw dipped in ranch, just like carrots.

    Obviously I'm not doing too well with my eating right now with all the stuff we've been cooking. *sigh* I have my excuses, but I won't go into them all here.

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  2. Oh how funny and cute! I had a similar experience although sort of in reverse. I was used to putting a roast on, doing the veg for Mum and when I moved away had a handle on dinner. However, one morning I decided to boil an egg for breakfast and had no idea how long to cook it for. I had to ring my Mum, who was aghast at the thought that I didn't know! All turned out well in the end.:)

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  3. Good memories, uh? I called my mother for instructions in cooking for many years.

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  4. Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope we will continue to check in on each other. You will find the sincere support from strangers to be incredibly valuable. It's odd but true. I loved your pie story. I remember being a teen-ager thinking that all grated cheese came in a little bag. I never knew that many cooks grate their own from a wedge or block. I was raised by a single dad and he always used the little bags! Just like your mom with the crust. You know what you see. Cute post!

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  5. Mercy! I don't remember being so pleased over a small thing..getting 2 new followers. Well, not that my new friends are small things (not speaking literally). I started my blog because I needed a place where I could be anonymous. You know, where no one would even come through and pick up my journal. Silly me. I thought blogging my weight loss was rather original. It's a whole under-ground movement! I've loved reading them and finding new ones. Kelly was one of my first blogs to read. She's helping me with improving my blog, but I haven't spent the time yet. I like your blog, too, Splurgie. Thanks again! See you around.

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  6. Hi Jenny, Just checking in to see how you are. Hope all is going well.

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