- By Marion Cardwell-Ferrer, Sincredible Pastries
- Entertainment
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Sweet Talk
Thanksgiving is over… and much to the shagrin of my family, and my inner embarrassment, I purchased an apple pie from one of those super box stores in Syracuse. The price seemed right; $5.99 for a pie that seemed oddly huge and looked beautiful, not to mention that I couldn’t MAKE a pie for less than that from scratch.
My husband meandered around the corner. We stood in front of the pie staring at it. I looked up at him and he gave me the 'look of approval' and said: "Make it easy on yourself this year…you work too hard." I was almost giddy to think that I didn’t have one more thing on my list to prepare, but in the inner recesses of my heart, I must admit I would miss making that flaky and buttery crust that crackled when you cut into it.
At the table on Thanksgiving day, I cut into the pie. As I was cutting it my brother-in-law asked: "How long does it take you to make those?" My head drooped and I admitted that they weren’t actually prepared by me and explained my reasoning behind purchasing them. I didn’t get much sympathy. Everyone just sat there looking at me as if to say "are you joking?" My Mothers eyebrow went up. Did I mention that when she offered to bring a pie from a store I scoffed at the idea? Well… I reminded them that it was $5.99. Still silence. I was hoping for the best.
I sliced the warm pie, and topped it with homemade whipped cream- I managed to muster that. I looked at everyone with anticipation as they filled their mouths. I didn’t see much reaction, so I dove in myself. It had to be the worst pie I have ever consumed . You are probably thinking "what a snob." But let me explain. I was perplexed at how something SO beautiful could taste this bad. The apples were not fully cooked, simultaneously spongy and crunchy. The spices in the pie were lack luster and the crust was weak and more like thin cardboard. There wasn’t an inkling of butter in that crust. I couldn’t even swallow it. I gracefully excused myself from the table and found a paper towel. I’ll spare you from the details. Let’s just say I looked like Tom Hanks in the movie "Big" when he took a napkin and wiped his tongue frantically after attempting to eat caviar. (So I guess I just gave you the details).
I sat back down at the table and looked at everyone’s plates. They didn’t seem as upset about it as I was. My husband was too full to eat pie, but later that night when he tried a piece he made a frown, stuck his tongue out and winced. That was enough for me.
This Christmas I will be making my apple pie. I wasn’t always good at making them, They intimidated me. So after culinary school was over I decided I could not be an American if I couldn’t bake a scrumptious apple pie. So I dove in and baked at least 15 pies until I was happy with the results. And then I tinkered some more. Today I am sharing my own apple pie recipe with you… it’s been kept under lock and key for years, but I just can’t imagine the poor people eating that box store pie, who think they are eating a real pie. I wish I could make it for $5.99, but you know what they say “ You get what you pay for” and this is certainly not the exception! So here is the recipe with all the hints and secrets to making a perfect pie. Make one for yourself today and revel in your queenly or kingly "pie-dom." CLICK HERE for pie recipe.
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