Pie Time with Nanna...

OK..some of you may know this and some of you may not...but my MOM is pretty much known for her unbelievable, mouth watering, incredible Pies...yes my Mom is better than 'Marie Calendars', Sara Lee or Village Inn. Her Pies are the ultimate BEST in creativity, flaky (to die for) pastry and everything in between. The problem is - it's a 'family' secret and she is very reluctant to share it with anybody.

You see I have to give you a little background first. My parents are both from England.  My Dad came over 6 months before he called my Mom and proposed and asked her to come over to America and marry him.  (My Mom came over to America in 1958). My brother and I are the only 'American' born in our entire family. My Dad came over to fulfill his dream of being a 'Professional' Golfer and my Mom gave up her dream when she moved to the states. You see my Mom was a 'Professional' Ballerina on the 'London' stage for 9 years before she moved over here to marry my Dad. They have quite a story which I will share at another time, but to get back to the 'Pies'. Daddy and Mommy met a 'Texan' who gave them their start in the 'golf world'. Basically Dad was hired as the 'Head Golf Professional' for a 9 hole executive course in 'Coeur d' Alene, Idaho'. He built this into an 18 hole master plan community that he managed and developed for over 30 years. During the winter's Mom and Dad would come to Mesa and run the 'Apache Wells' Country Club until one day Dad was approached to build his own course. He and Mom built 'Camelot Golf Club' out in east Mesa and owned and ran it for over 25 years. This is where Mom started sharing her 'Pies'. When Camelot was first started all they had was a trailer for the clubhouse. Part of the clubhouse was a snack shop that Mom ran. She made wonderful sandwiches and pies. She would bake 10 pies a night at home and then bring them into the coffee shop and sell them by the piece for lunch to all the golfers. Well one day...she made this amazing 'Chocolate/Pear' pie that everyone who tried it wanted more. There was a Doctor who came in everyday for lunch (he loved her sandwiches too) and once he tasted the 'Chocolate/Pear' he wanted to buy the whole pie. Mom said to him...I can't sell you the whole pie because then there won't be any for the other customers. Needless to say he was not happy. The next day the Doctor came in and approached my mom and said "If I pay you for each individual piece of that pie, you can't refuse to sell it to me"...the Doctor had her...so he paid for each piece and took the whole pie home. I asked Mom later on after she told us this story...why she just didn't make (2) Chocolate/Pear pies each night...she said it was the principal of the thing and so to teach the Doctor...she quite making the Chocolate/Pear pie. The one thing I learned early on with Mom...don't ever make Mom mad because she will always Win in the end...LOL..but seriously Mom's pies are the creme de la creme of pies.

So a few months ago...Trellany wanted to make a pie for her friend Robert as a surprise for Christmas and guess who just happened to be at the house...MOM...so it was a perfect opportunity to learn from the best. Mom (Nanna) was gracious enough to get in the kitchen with Trellany and teach her the 'family' secret crust and help Trellany make an 'Apple Pie' that was truly to 'die for'. My Dad even got in on the action as we set him up to 'peel the apples' with the nifty apple/corer tool that I just love from 'Pampered Chef'.

Enjoy the pics that follow of 'Pie Time with Nanna'...

Nanna showing Trellany how to roll the pastry

Then you place it in the dish

gently roll the paper from the pastry

then you pinch the side to make it look pretty..:)

fill the pie with the filling...this one is Apples...yum

Nanna explaining to Trellany how to cut the apples and what kind of apples to use.

Papa loves to help...he was in charge of peeling and coring the apples

Hey...this is a pretty cool tool..it does the whole thing for you..(peels, cores and slices)

This is saving me hours of work...whoopee!!

The pie is almost full..

Wow...I did it...now I just have to put the top crust on and bake it...hope it turns out good.

I think Robert was a little shocked...he said 'Wow' you made me a Pie?


The verdict came back a few days later...that was the best 'Apple' Pie I've ever had.  

Trellany you scored...although Robert is now preparing for his Mission and is focusing on this we are grateful and thankful for all that he did for Trellany during their 'fun' dating time.  We wish Robert all the success in the world on his mission and look forward to his safe return in 2011.