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Lorna Michael Butler's avatar

…. Your poem transported me to the southern Alberta ranch kitchen where I grew up, remembering my own grandmother’s apple pie production. Not just one pie, but usually many pies. And there was always a pan of warm ‘do- dads’ for the kids….. baked pastry bits sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Yes, I could see the well worn linoleum counter tops, and a somewhat temperamental wood stove!! Apples often came from a cousin’s orchard in the Okanagan lakes region. Other times her pies were made from local ‘Saskatoon’ berries or very sour chokecherries (often picked by myself and visiting kids) laced with bits of sour apple, and lots of cinnamon. The tender crust reflected years of practice, and well chilled lard laced with homemade butter. Our winter favorite was home made mince meat pie, topped with hand turned ice cream.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Lorna, love these memories. Mom and grandma also made cinnamon and sugar pies with the leftover crust scraps, with a little milk they were creamy tarts. Can you imagine baking on a temperamental wood stove? Excited to see you soon.

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Mary Gottschalk's avatar

Wonderful ... took me back to 52 (once per week) cherry pies (with lard and fluted edges) my mother made every 4th of July weekend for more than dozen years. It was a ritual event ... and everything else stopped while pie-making was going on.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

How fabulous! Lard only still for my mom. Love the memories.

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Thalia Toha's avatar

Suzanna- I love the visuals of “When I smell pie, I see her sturdy form standing.” So specific and provoking. I appreciate this.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Thank you, Thalia. She was a short, stout firecracker!

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Cheryl Tevis's avatar

Love this, Suzanna!

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Thank you, Cheryl!

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MARGI WEISS's avatar

Beautiful! I saw my Grandma, too.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Grandmas and pies go together!

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Chris Henning's avatar

Another wonderful grandma pie. 🥧 I can smell it baking now.

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Chris Henning's avatar

Were you there? I had hoped to sit in on a session …..

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

No, I was unable to attend due to a household of family with covid who I had to care for, which ultimately got down the line to me.

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Chris Henning's avatar

Oh no!!! Isn’t that the way some days!!! I missed you, and know others did too.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Indeed! Sorry to miss you at Okoboji!

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Kathi Zimpleman's avatar

Thank you, Suzanna. You took me back to Grandma Murphy's kitchen where she made apple pies, blueberry pies, blackberry pies, cherry pies, rhubarb pies. Thankfully, she taught my mom to make those pies with the lard crusts. Mom made the best pies. Her lemon meringue pie was the most requested one of the bunch. My Aunt Gen made all of those plus gooseberry because gooseberries grew in the bushes. Me? I never learned how to make a pie, but after reading your poem and the sweet memories it brought back to me, maybe I should give it a go!

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

It is never too late… but there’s always Pies and Pastries by Lana! Thanks for the comment as always.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Ps Is Gen short for Genevieve?

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Kathi Zimpleman's avatar

Yes! She was something!!

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Judy Conlin's avatar

Congratulations. This is as delicious as it is heartwarming.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Thank you, Judy!

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Sharon Goldford's avatar

You could be talking about my Grandmother except she also made custard pie and wonderful lemon meringue. My Grandfather, who was a telegraph operator for the railroad, took a fourth to a half of pie for lunch everyday. She was always up very early baking. I loved how she taught me to bake. I had my own small pie pans and rolling pin. The kitchen always smelled wonderful but it was sure hot in the summer. Thank you for the memories, you made me smile.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Love this! And the tiny rolling pin - priceless!

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Heide Exner Larson's avatar

Oh yes! My mother’s most personal expression of love to her family came out of the kitchen, and particularly out of the oven, like pie. Thank you Suzanna for this award worthy, saliva producing poem😋.

P. S. Fav: strawberry/rhubarb.

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Oh, strawberry rhubarb is the best! I remember your mother fondly.

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Heide Exner Larson's avatar

And I the same. Your mother was such a role model I based much of my own parenting on her example!

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SharonJ's avatar

My mother's "old-fashioned cream" pie. She made THE BEST crusts! Fave #2 growing up was pumpkin. Pie for breakfast after Thanksgiving...YUM 😋😋😋

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Breakfast pie indeed! My mother-in-law made chocolate cream pie and her kids loved that.

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Susan Yinger's avatar

Memories! 🥲

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Exactly! Thanks for the comment.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

So beautiful!

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Suzanna de Baca's avatar

Thanks, Bob. See you tomorrow!

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Kent Zimmerman's avatar

👍❤️delicious!

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