Learning from the Master

This year, Katie and I thought it would be fun to have my mom teach us to make her famous pies. We had so much fun baking and playing around. I can't believe we actually got a pie baked with all the goofing off we did!

My mom is the greatest. She can cook, sew, and decorate circles around Martha Stewart. Her apple pies look like they came from the cover of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Speaking of pies, I want to share this funny story about my Nana and mom. We retell this story every time my mom bakes a pie, and it just gets funnier and funnier.

When I was in high school, my mom went back to work after being a stay-at-home mom my entire life. My nana was very displeased with her decision and, in true "Nana fashion" did not keep this feeling to herself. She thought my mother belonged in the kitchen with cookies ready for us when we got off the bus every day. My mom found a job she really wanted and went back to work, despite how Nana felt about it.

On the first Thanksgiving after going back to work, my mom asked my aunt to make the pies. (My mom figured she would be too busy to prepare the dinner AND make pies.) My aunt baked the pies, brought them to our house, and placed them on the counter.

Nana walked in and began investigating the spread my mother had prepared for dinner. Very loudly she said, "Debbie, things around here haven't been the same ever since you went back to work. Look, even your pies have gone downhill." My aunt was laughing hysterically, knowing Nana had NO IDEA that she (my aunt) had actually made the pies. Good thing she had a sense of humor.........my Nana really is a character.