That's All

It's been a day of twos.

- Two narrow escapes at highway creamery during my commute.

- Two trips to the grocery store.

- Two seriously delinquent clients at work sent in checks received in today's mail that marked them paid in full.

- Two long overdue e-mail responses sent.

- Two loads of laundry washed, folded, and stored.

- Two beautiful pies baked for trade to take to a DIY homemade food exchange event at denhac on Saturday. (I'll bake two more tomorrow.)

- Two sinkfuls of dishes hand washed, dried, and put away.

And now me and my two tired feet are sitting down to rest, finally, after a long, full, happily productive day.

It feels as though it's been forever since I baked anything. Well...OK...I baked a blueberry-pineapple cobblery thing a couple of weeks ago (another 2!) to take to a gathering but I don't count that as there was very little to it.  Sincerely, one would have to be massively challenged both mentally and physically not to be able to pull it off.

But I'm not talking about bakery fluff. I'm talking about the kind of baking that requires me to pull out and dust off the Kitchen Aid and plan ahead for timing and ingredients. Anyone who has ever tried to work homemade pie crust dough before it's properly chilled knows precisely what I mean. 

However, having just experienced the hottest summer on record here in Denver, turning the oven on at all, much less to 425º, seemed ridiculous...quite possibly certifiably crazy. And I'm not really certifiable. At least, not yet. So I haven't baked anything in what feels like forever until tonight.

And it felt really great! There's something about baking...especially pie...that feels like pouring love into a delectable crust and serving it up to people I adore. It's a way of giving some small token of myself, of my affection, my appreciation. To share a particular comfort I do well. I'm so very glad to be back at it. I suspect Lex, in addition to a number of my friends, will be tired of weekly treats before the cold months are through.

Speaking of friends...so Acr0nym flew out to San Francisco last week for a job interview. I knew it was happening of course...knew it was a possibility after the first couple rounds of phone interviews. But, since I found out about the face time interviews, I've been transparently angsty and worried. Today he had another follow up call with the hiring director who told him if he wanted an offer, all he had to do was say, "make me an offer". 

And I'm devastated at the possibility of him leaving.

Like no really. I cannot even begin to imagine what life would be like without him here with me. And not just because he drives my ass around. But because...jeebus...because he's my best friend. He takes care of me in ways no one ever has and, as it stands now, never will. He loves me. I love him. What can I say? I have deeply seeded abandonment issues.

I had an epiphany today though. I'm being horrendously selfish by expressing my displeasure at this opportunity. While I do not, under any circumstances, want him to leave, I do not want to, under any circumstances, hold him back. I want him to be happy. I want him to have adventures. I want him to have a chance to leave what has always been home - something he's never done - so that he can either find out this was never home and create home somewhere new or discover 303 will always be home and come back on his own volition. 

So I told him to tell this potential employer to make him an offer. 

Even if he doesn't take the offer, not asking to find out what they think he's worth to them is begging for a what if. And I refuse to play a part in his what if down the line. Not in this instance at least. 

And if he goes? I'll cry. Buckets. And I'll probably ask many of you to provide me with any number of distractions to get by. I'll likely ask for rides and increase my taxi budget so I don't have to drive much more than I already do. And I'll make a special budgetary line item for San Francisco travel so that I can go see him as much as possible. And I will force him under duress to promise to visit me as often as possible.

But I will not stand in his way.

Not now. Not ever.

If he goes, it just means I'll spend my free time baking even more love and tears into things that can be shipped UPS.

That's all.

It's All in the Wrist

I make my own pie crusts.

I don't state this to lord it over anyone who buys pre-packaged pie crusts from the grocery or saves themselves several hours altogether and buys pies from the Village Inn or the frozen aisle selection of Marie Callendar's.

It's just...baking pies? It's what I do¹.

Other people craft, sew, knit, rear children, cook gourmet dishes, volunteer, obsess over makeup and fashion. Me? I don't do any of those things. Instead, I bake.

A lot.

There's something about baking - when you've discovered the few easy secrets you need to do it well - that's a zen thing. There is something particularly satisfying about baking up a sweet treat filled to the brim with love and giving it to someone who needs a reminder of what love means. There is a certain satisfaction about knowing I've created something completely from scratch that will fill even the most finicky of sweet eaters with glee.

So...I bake.

I don't post recipes here - with the exception of the triple chocolate boomchunka recipe and that's only because the website upon which I discovered it disappeared and I didn't ever want to lose it again. Baking isn't really what I'm about day to day. I also don't want to feel limited to only posting about baking when 97% of my energy is dedicated to other endeavors.

But, tonight, as I sit waiting for the last pie for tomorrow's feast to finish baking, I thought I'd share with you the world's most fail-proof pie crust recipe known to man.

How do I know it's the world's most fail-proof?

Because I've used it now for the last 5 years and have never once had a failed crust no matter how many times I had to re-roll it out nor how much extra flour got mixed in with said re-rolling. I have no recollection where I found the recipe. It could have been anywhere at this point so, if it's yours, please do let me know and I'll ensure you are credited with such an amazingly simple, easy, delectable recipe!

The Best Pie Crust EVER!
*  1 3/4 cup butter-flavored Crisco (I'm unashamed to admit I use Crisco in my baking)
*  4 cups all-purpose flour
*  3 tablespoons white sugar
*  2 teaspoons salt
*  1 egg
*  1/2 cup water

1) In a large bowl, cut the Crisco into the flour, sugar, and salt with a pastry cutter until crumbly.

2) Mix the egg and water in a small bowl and then gradually cut into the flour mixture until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

3) Refrigerate until ready to use.

Makes 2 or 3 9" pie crusts depending on how thick you like your crusts (I like mine really thick...mostly because I'm relatively lazy).

I typically prepare my dough 24 hours in advance of use. I've discovered it is much MUCH easier to roll out if the dough has had plenty of time to chill. Also, if you're like me and it takes you 2 or 3 tries to get it right? Put the dough back in the refrigerator for a few minutes while you take a moment to compose yourself after the first disastrous run. Have a glass of wine. It'll help (both the wine and the refrigeration) when you tackle it again.

I promise. Rolling out the pie crust is the worst part. I also promise this recipe is worth the effort. No, really. I promise.

Tomorrow will be the 4th Annual Grotto Thanksgiving whereby a dozen (or more...I likely won't have a final head count until supper's on the table...that's how my friends roll) people will descend the stairs and fill my house with a lot of laughter, a lot of wine, and a lot of fun.

I also know that tomorrow, no matter what happens to the rest of the food, there will be fantastic pie and lots of it (pumpkin, pecan without corn syrup, and blueberry) with fresh whipped cream...because that canned or frozen stuff is a "no" in my book too.


1: I nearly went into business making pies for a living. That fell through due to no fault of my pies.

The Cake is a Lie

You may not know this (unless you are me), but January 23rd - EVERY YEAR - is National Pie Day.

Do not argue with me.

I understand if you think Pie Day is in March. But no. That is PI Day - March 14 (3/14 or 3.14) - and there is a distinct difference between a mathematical constant and a tasty and delicious crust filled with sweet treats.

If you'd like that another way...

There's pi...

pi

And there's pie...

Pie...in my oven...right now.

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 because pi = 3.14.

National Pie Day is celebrated on January 23rd because I don't know why. It's just the date the American Pie Council decided was a good day for pie I guess. In my mind though, every day is a good day for pie...unless it's a good day for cake. In which case, cake trumps pie. Every time.

Still...pie. OMG pie. Pie. PIE. PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!

So, because yesterday was Pie Day, and because it was also Kaffee Klatch Day at the Matt Haus, I baked a pie. A luscious, delectable, blueberry-cherry pie. You know, because I'm tired of fall and winter pies like pecan or pumpkin, and frankly? There is nothing - not even cake - that beats an extraordinary blueberry pie à la mode (except for the dairy part *shaking fist at the lactose-intolerance gawd*).

It looked like this...

Delectable Blueberry-Cherry Pie

And it was good.

So good I made a pot pie (in my oven right now) for supper.

Pie. *moment of silence*

Pre-Gluttony/Sloth Game

1) Do you want to know what makes the world a better place?

Pie.

From my kitchen to my belly....mmmmm...pie

But also? According to my Facebook (and real life) friends...cheese, coffee, cake, and, apparently, naked men and women eating pie.

So, I have to say, Universe? I'm going to forgive you. Because honestly? Dude. Pie...and coffee...and cheese...and cake...and, ok, naked people eating pie.

Clearly, I'm feeling a bit better than I was last night.

2) I still make better pie crusts than N8 the G8. Just sayin'. Seriously. No fail recipe. Every time.

3) Today is Vinny's 3rd adoption birthday. Well now...hmmm...I guess it's 2nd anniversary and his 3rd Thanksgiving with us here in the Grotto. I brought him home the Monday before Thanksgiving in 2008. He was so so sick with kennel cough and nauseated from anesthesia from having his nip/tuck done earlier in the day. It was November 24 and I spent most of that week and weekend lying on the couch with him as he drooled and coughed and snotted all over me all while I was trying to cook my very first Thanksgiving meal from start to finish. We bonded that weekend, he and I. I'll never be the same for having him in my life. He's number 2 on my list of beings to be grateful for.

The Best Cat Ever

4) I worry way too much. Don't take it personally or read too much into it. When I care? I worry. About you and you and you.

5) I signed up to do #reverb10. It's requiring me to learn how to actually use, and then actually use, Twitter. It's also causing me to already begin to reflect on 2010. And I'm thinking back to how the year started...you know who you are...and where it's ended up (so far). I don't understand it. It's making me realize I have no ability to predict the future pretty much ever. So it ain't worth trying to. It's probably not worth worrying about either. But, you know, that piece I can't seem to help.

6) Have you ever looked at the list of available wireless networks in an intensive wireless network area? Do the names of these networks crack you up? My favorite sitting here tonight in the Grotto is the "Tummy" network. Someone 'round here is of the awesome. I mean, besides me and my BFF neighbors, that is.

7) I've been thinking a lot about Moon today. Of course I've been thinking about her...for obvious reasons. But what many of you don't know is what I've been thinking about. You see, when the accident first happened, an extremely close friend of hers, St. Jude, created a Facebook page to keep all of us updated on everything that was happening. And, as it turns out, Facebook has proven to be invaluable. It has connected people in ways not conceived of (at least, by me) during such a time. It's allowed family and close friends to communicate with a HUGE body of people without having to repeat themselves over and over again.

But! It's also given people a place to express love, gratitude, grief, support. I cannot tell you what an incredible thing it is to go to that group and see what sweet, loving comments have been left.

This has gotten me to thinking about something...

We have these extraordinary tools right at our very fingertips. Tools that weren't readily available 10 years ago. We now have this amazing ability to create digital tributes to people we love. With Moon, I'm seeing this tremendous outpouring of memories, stories, photographs of this gorgeous woman. And it struck me that there should be a place - a somewhat static place - a scrapbook, if you will that everyone who knew and loved/was touched by her could contribute something to it.

While Facebook is wonderful, it's not quite the medium (given its limitations as I've previously described) for what I'm imagining. But what about a place...kinda like this one? A blog where the contributors are the people who loved her...were touched by her?

I don't know. It's just an idea. Probably silly. Still...I think it might be valuable...at least, maybe to me. Someone who didn't get to know her as well as the others. Some of us who would've liked to have known her better if there'd been time. And valuable to people who did love her with all of their hearts - to see that their brightest star was touched by so very many and to hear why.

8) Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, y'all. If you don't say what's in your heart tomorrow, you may not have a second chance. If you feel like you can't, ask yourself why? I've been asking myself that for the last two days. Why can't I say what's in my heart? I'm going to try to say it - although words never do seem to be enough - tomorrow.


A year ago: I Could Be a Vegetarian If It Weren't For That Whole Bacon Thing
                  The Happy Birthday Boy