Apples & Thyme

Love one pie at a time.

My mother has always been the woman in my family that I am the closest to. She was taught to cook by my great grandmother Martha Rose a stout swedish farm wife. She then taught me, and someday I hope to spend as much fun times in the kitchen with my daughters and sons as I did with my mom teaching them. We were always poor and never had much for fresh ingredients but no matter what we had my mom used her creative flair to come up with something delicious. The reason I chose pumpkin pie for my apples and thyme entry is because when I think of my mom and cooking the story of the first time she made pumpkin pie for us always comes to mind.

It was when I was quite young. We lived in the ghetto on the slightly better side of the street in a cramped little apartment that it wasn't too rare to see a roach or too. Sometimes there were break ins or we could hear gun shots down the streets. She worked two full time jobs as a single mother raising two girls and a brand new baby boy. Some of my fondest and happiest memories come from that pit hole. One weekend she decided she was going to make us a real pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin. None of that canned pumpkin mix. Me and my sister were really excited waiting all day and the house smelled so good with the spices and pumpkin scent.

When My mom brought it out of the oven the thing that smelled like heaven looked like the most disgusting thing I'd ever seen. The pie for some reason came out a weird gray color. It had no orange in it at all. It looks a bit gelatinous. My mom both laughing and a bit disappointed was teasing us that we should try it. Although looked ready to throw it out. Me and my younger sister discussed and decided because I'm the oldest I would be the one to brave the pie so that moms work didn't go for nothing. There I was ready to try and grin and tell my mom her disgusting pie was really great. Pinched my nose (as a kid didn't realize that would probably be rude) and bottoms up took a huge bite. Much to my complete surprise it was the tastiest pie I'd ever had at the time. Once my sister saw how much I liked it we all dug in. There was no left overs for that pie. It was one of those lessons of don't judge a book by its cover. Since then My mom has grown and learned to make awesome pumpkin pies (that aren't gray) as well as many other things that we adore. So this my very first pumpkin pie made by myself I dedicate to you. It's not gray nor as tasty as yours that time, but it was great fun making it. I love you.

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