tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88613531305424033722024-02-06T21:04:30.786-05:00The Intentional JourneyLiving Life on PurposeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861353130542403372.post-75283013001391009982021-11-25T08:59:00.000-05:002021-11-25T08:59:00.186-05:00Thanksgiving Thoughts by Kristin Hand<p><br /></p><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-8ad27037-7fff-fb8b-eb28-b94fa86ff9e0"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;">The Bible seems very specific that we’re supposed to be thankful, period. No qualifiers needed. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” which seems to say that gratitude should be a way of life. That doesn’t make it easy.
I have a hard time with the holidays because the number of people around the table in my family has been shrinking. This is, of course, normal as people get older and pass away. In my family, however, we’ve lost four members of the same side between November 17 and December 7 - right in the prime of the holiday season.
Add the sense of loss to my introversion and everything compounds. I love my family - in-laws and all. My family is large with a full gathering being between 10-20 people in the same place at any given time. It’s the appropriate level of noise for that size of gathering, which as I get older, is becoming too loud. And it’s draining. There’s the expectation that you’re not going to sit in a corner and read (although I do try) while everyone else is laughing and sharing memories. So I do, knowing that it will take days afterwards to recover.
Do you know what though? I wouldn’t trade it. Do I miss the family no longer at the table? Absolutely. Do I wish the family time was quieter? Usually. Would I rather be sitting at home with just my little family? Not at all. We did that last year, and it just wasn’t the same.
This Thanksgiving has already thrown us a curve, which we’ve managed to handle, and we’re on to Plan B. I’m grateful for options, because I realize that not everyone has the luxury to visit with the other side of the family if one side isn’t available. I’m also grateful for the memories of past Thanksgivings with loved ones who are celebrating the holidays in Heaven. I’m even grateful for the noise, because one day, the silence may be deafening.
So even though it’s hard, I’ll be having a grateful Thanksgiving this year.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861353130542403372.post-26172608411542443352021-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:002021-11-24T08:00:00.193-05:00Mom's Apple Pies by Kendra McEvoy<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 2012 was mom’s last Thanksgiving. I know, I know. What a depressing start to a blog post, but it leads to one of my favorite memories with mom, so I’m starting there. Every year for Thanksgiving, Mom made apple pies. It was her specialty, and the whole family loved to indulge in her pies. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ee2b81b4-7fff-6ba1-e085-46102b6bb132"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until 2012. Mom was too weak that year. In October, she had chosen to discontinue cancer treatments that were no longer working for her, and, by late November, when Thanksgiving came around, she wasn’t able to make the apple pies. So what did she do?</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She insisted that I make the pies. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was she kidding me? No, no she was not.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember protesting a little, then requesting that she come over and help me, but that was a little too much too. She helped me over the phone, repeatedly telling me that she knew I could do it. In my mind, I knew I could do it too, but, in my heart, I also knew that I didn’t really want to do it. I wanted Mom’s apple pies to be on the Thanksgiving buffet, and I wanted her to make them. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All that said, I have to admit that making those first apple pies, just like Mom’s, is one of my favorite, most treasured memories. She walked me through it and told me it was my job now. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My job. To make the pies. Mom’s apple pies. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because we all knew this would be her last Thanksgiving.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We hosted a house full of people that year, and it was amazing. I cooked a feast for over twenty people, mostly from out of town. Several of mom’s siblings, some of my cousins with their kids came to celebrate the holiday with us. It is truly a most precious memory.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the pies were a hit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Thanksgiving since then, I make the apple pies. I pull out the copy of the recipe that is in Mom’s handwriting. I find Alabama Christmas on Spotify. And I make apple pie, sometimes through tears but always with smiles. It’s the most important dish on the holiday menu, and I cherish that time, alone in the kitchen, baking Mom’s apple pie.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Mom’s Apple Pie</i></span></p><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>2 prepared 9” pie crusts</i></span></p><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Filling:</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>½ Cup flour</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1 ½ C sugar</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1 T cinnamon</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1 ½ t apple pie spice</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>3 lbs apples, peeled and sliced</i></span></p><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Topping:</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>1 C flour</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>½ C brown sugar</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>½ C cold butter or margarine </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Directions:</i></span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Combine filling ingredients in a bowl. Pour half the apple pie filling into each prepared crust.</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Combine flour and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Add butter. Mix with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly.</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Top pie filling with the crumb topping.</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Place a pie shield or strips of foil around the edges of the crust.</i></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Bake at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, remove the pie shield and cover the top of the pie with a square of aluminum foil to prevent the topping from burning. </i></span></p></li></ol><i><br /></i><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple additional notes. I’ve made these pies with three different kinds of apples: gala, fuji, and honey crisp. Honey crisp is the best and most expensive and hardest to find. All three taste great. Use your favorite pie apple. It’ll be perfect.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And pie crust? Do what makes you happy. Pillsbury works fine. It’s what Mom used. I use a Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free pie crust, and I use gluten free flour in the crumb topping. It works great too. Don’t stress over making your own crust. It’s not worth it. Mom’s apple pies should make you happy. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let me know if you try this recipe! Mom would be thrilled to know I’m sharing it with you!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0