What pushes a mostly sane woman to wade into a flesh-tearing patch of blackberry brambles? The promise of hot, crisp blackberry pie with peanut butter crust and crumble. Add vanilla ice cream and you have a holy experience. And I must say thank you to Brian and Pam Ellis, my former next door neighbors, who always let me know when the berries in their yard are ripe for…
I always worry that I’m not experimental enough in the kitchen. I find a good recipe and then stick with it for the rest of my life. This worry was spurred by a friend once comparing me to another friend who cooks. She said, “You’re a great home cook, but ______, well he’s a chef.” My pride was wounded, but I understood. The friend who she was talking…
Baking• Desserts• Italian Mom Stories• Pies
Italian Bonding with Trader Pies and Easter Bread
April 4, 2015
Italian women bound into a flurry of baking activity before big holidays like Easter and Christmas. Then they rush their baked goods to friends and family, as though the holiday will not happen unless every last baked good is delivered.…
Baking• Family Traditions• Holidays• Pies• Thanksgiving• Thoughts on Life
The Cutthroat Annual Tunno Pumpkin Pie Contest
November 26, 2014
Remember the nice story I wrote last week about my family loving each other because my mom was a great cook and so nurturing and wonderful? Most of the time that’s true, until it’s time for the cutthroat Annual Tunno Pumpkin Pie Contest. It commences right after Thanksgiving dinner, which is a good thing because we’re all too full to move, let alone hurt each other. I’ve only…
Summer means fruit pie season and I am a ho for fruit pies and crisps — especially right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream on top. Every time I overeat, then vow to cut out sweets completely (this happens weekly) I realize I could never do it if it meant not having fruit pie again. This is clearly genetic. My brothers are both ho’s for blackberry…