This is the 1st in a series of Pie Camp stories.
I put my heart into all three of the books I’ve written. I guess I’ve written a trilogy of sorts–full of recipes and life stories. I think of them as beloved daughters and Pie Camp: The Skills You Need to Make Any Pie You Want is the youngest. October 6th is almost here–the date that she will be officially released.
I turned in sooooo much material…well over what my contract specified–and there just wasn’t room for it all. It was hard to let the extra go, but I have a brilliant editor who I trust completely, so I did.
Now, if it is ok with you…
I’d like to do a series of posts with some of these words and recipes, so hopefully you can enjoy them, too.
The first one is about Ricardo and the day he made a peach pie.
Ricardo’s Peak Pie Day Experience
Ricardo and his partner had been gifted spots to a one-day camp I was teaching in California, but he almost didn’t come. A team leader, with a demanding and stressful career, he was facing a major presentation the very next day, and a day spent learning to make pie felt somewhat frivolous, especially since he would have to drive three hours each way. But, the day arrived and he decided to come.
The workshop was to be held in the farm kitchen at Frog Hollow Farm and first we picked sweet ripe peaches right off the trees in the orchard. Ricardo helped to carry them into the kitchen, where he watched, learned, and made a beautiful pie with a lattice top. The smile on his face in the Pie Camp graduation photo I took of him holding his just baked pie, is full of pride and joy.
Our paths crossed a number of years later and he recounted to me, how making a pie was so far removed from his milieu of experience, that during that time he was able to push aside the thoughts of the week ahead, and focus on something new and different. It cleared his mind and he felt renewed and refreshed after camp. When Monday rolled around, he brought a bright can-do feeling to his team…along with the pie.
Ricardo told me that although he couldn’t afford the time to come, he couldn’t afford not to come either, and that day making pie, is one of the best and peak experience days of his life.
Favorite Pie: Peach
What about you? Do you find baking something that centers you? That lifts you from the challenges of your day? If you care to share your story in the comments, please do…or you can email it to me.
Love,
Kate
I have pre-ordered a copy of the new book at PB&N. I’m looking forward very much to trying the cream cheese crust recipe. I have apples from my farm share.
Hi Pamela, I made many of the crusts that were photographed for the book with that crust. I love its flavor and how easy it is to work with.
What a lovely story. I found the pie camps I attended this summer with you and your inspiration while I’ve been baking have so helped me during this terrible time. Thank you.
You are so very welcome, Ellen. It has been a pleasure and delight to have you join me virtually in our kitchens!
Kate –
I’ve always loved making pies, especially apple, especially from my own trees. Many decades ago now, I was visiting my brother’s family in New York City. After visiting the Union Square Farmers’ Market and getting some nice apples there, I made one with my then-six year old niece. It was a wonderful experience, passing on something of our family to the next generation. She loved the attention and the pie! I still laugh thinking about her little tummy dusted with flour, belly up to the counter, rolling out the dough! She’s all grown up now, with a 7 month old son of her own. I hope to help him make his own apple pie when he’s a bit older. Another floured tummy!
Oh I LOVE this story Cyndi! I think teaching pie making to younger generations is a statement of hope and love that they will pass the craft on.
What a great story. My husband loves pie – especially cherry pie. I had only made pie with store-bought crust. I had no idea that the reason I really didn’t care for pie was those store-bought shells. I saw a recipe somewhere for the crust, and I tried it, and couldn’t believe the difference between the store-bought and the made-with-love version. I was converted in that instant! Once I had The Art of Pie in my hot little hands, I felt I could make any kind of pie! I thank you for that.
Julie, Thank you so much for sharing this! Oh, and be sure to hold ice cubes in those “hot little hands” so the fats in your dough will stay chilled. 😉
I use pie as my diversion too. Writing long book-length projects is often discouraging when it seems I will never be finished. That’s how I came to pie baking–I wanted to see a creative endeavor finished and I need that satisfaction in one afternoon, not years. Ever since the first time I took a break and made a pie, I have found that pie is my muse. Pie helps me survive the long work of writing. And, I get to eat it when I’m done, as opposed to my books.
“And, I get to eat it when I’m done, as opposed to my books.” Ditto that, Amy!