Old Family Pastry Recipe

I have enjoyed baking as long as I can remember. I'm sure that a lot of us have similar memories of standing on kitchen chairs, honoured to contribute in anyway to the preparation and gleefully stalking the oven window while nibbling on the remaining bits of batter. I predominantly remember making snickerdoodles with my Mom and hearth bread and tea scones with my Dad. Kitchen memories are so cozy and heart-warming. 

My mother remembers pie making from her childhood. My Grandma had quite the hand at pie filling, but no patience for pastry, which worked great because her mother was an excellent pastry maker. I visualize my mother's stories of watching her mother and grandmother collaborate on pie making. I can imagine my Mom with her short golden blond hair and her striking freckles hanging out in a 1940's kitchen, waiting as anxiously for the pies as I did for cookies and tea scones.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create my own pie-making memories with one of my sister-in-laws. I was fortunate to get a copy of my Great-Grandmother's pastry recipe. Neither Marcy or I had ever made pastry. Both novices, we gathered our ingredients, prepared our pie fillings and gave it our best shot. I cooked up chicken-pot pie filling the night before, and she whipped up two different fruit pie fillings on the fly (one strawberry, the other raspberry). Though we said it ourselves, echoed by other willing taste-testers, our first stab at pastry making was indeed a success!

Strawberry Pie (left), Chicken Pot Pie (right)

I was very nervous as I scanned the recipe. I had always heard that pastry was supposed to be kept as cold as possible and that the lard is cut in rather than melted, but this recipe called for the lard to be melted on a stove top. I was left with two pots of translucent liquid. I called my mother in a panic before my sister-in-law arrived. Unfortunately, my Grandma is not around to give me tips and my mother had been too little at the time to recall. Feeling my nerves rising, I prayed that my baking date would not be a complete disaster. With a little Google research, I discovered that this was a "Hot-Water Pastry" recipe. Who knew? I learned that it was good to use with heavier pie fillings. That worked for me and my chicken pot pie, too!

By the end of the morning, we were chatting, rolling our dough, laughing at our awkward moments in handling our pastry, and trying to add nice details to our uncooked masterpieces. You can see by the picture that Marcy's has all the aesthetics that mine lacks! I was shocked at how easy it was to make such delicious pastry. With no experience or assistance, we pulled it off! After a quick clean up, we enjoyed some herbal tea and the wafting aroma of buttery pastry, herbed chicken and sweet berries. 
Of course, you are on this site to get a pastry recipe, aren't you? And some of you have probably scrolled down by-passing my paragraphs. Enough, then! Here is my old family pastry recipe for one shell.

•  ½ c. shortening (cut into 1 inch cubes)
• ¼ c. boiling water

1. Melt on stove or in a warm place.

2. Beat until cold & creamy.

3. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

• 1 ½ c. flour (all-purpose)
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda

4. Sift into bowl and mix.

5. Beat shortening & water into flour with wooden spoon.

6. Stir until smooth ball is formed.

7. Refrigerate 1 hour.

8. Roll out dough on ample floured surface, taking care not to over handle.

9. Wrap ready-shell around the rolling pin and unwrap into the pie shell.

10. Spoon in filling.

       

The dough will keep for 8 to 10 days.

If you require 2 shells, double recipe except the baking soda.

**For fruit pies, making the boiling water ½ lemon juice and ½ water. Add 1 Tbsp sugar to every 1 ½ cups of flour.

As for the tasty pie fillings? I do not know Marcy's recipe. To my recollection, she used 2 cups of berries mixed with sugar and possibly water and heated it up in a frying pan. It made a thick, gooey berry mixture. The chicken pot pie filling is not my own recipe. It is from the Hillbilly Housewife's 
Freezer Cooking Made Simple E-book. I recommend the resource and the recipes in it; especially the Chicken Pot Pie. Not helpful? Well, the family heirloom I offer you is the pastry recipe, what can I say? :-) But now is the chance for you to find the recipe for the pie of your dreams, use this 100 year old recipe, and create your own proud to serve masterpiece!  

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Have questions or suggestions? There is a comment section waiting just for you!

Did you know that it's "My Husband is Awesome" day?!

                          

I love blogs. Particularly blogs written by women. More so, blogs written by Christian women. Call me biased, I don't care, I love them. Ladies, if you have spare time to kill on the internet (I know you do because we all make time for it), check out some blogs. Don't know where to start? Just ask me! There are so many sisters in Christ out there who have the mission to encourage, teach, and lead by example when it comes to the roles of Wife and Momma. Today, I am linking up with Jessica Bowman from Bohemian Bowmans who is one of my new favourites. She and her family have moved up to B.C. from the States and I think we should give them a warm Canadian welcome. Even if some of us may live 4,050 km away! She has declared it "My Husband is Awesome Day" and has challenged wives to list the ways that their husband is...well...awesome! So here it goes!

1. Kevin knows how much God loves him. That may seem like an odd place to start because most Christians know God loves them, but, truthfully, I rebut that not all necessarily have the scope of how much they are loved. The Holy Spirit has used Kevin to teach me many great things and to challenge old belief systems that are man-made, not God-inspired. Every day (sometimes more than once), Kevin will say, "Who is the one who Jesus loves?" That is my cue to say ME! He puts more emphasis on the Father's love for me than that of his own. Which leads me to the second thing...
2. Kevin loves me. He expresses and demonstrates his love to me all the time. I sometimes whine that he doesn't say it enough. Or I might pout if he doesn't immediately respond when I tell him that I love him. That is insecurity talking; insecurity that is slowly fading, I am happy to say! Kevin is always building me up through his love.
3. Kevin compliments me. I never knew my Mom's dad, so I cherish every story of Mr. James that I can get my ears near. Mom told me that after every meal, Grandpa would boast about my Grandma, "Florence, that was the best supper I ever had!" It was either the best chicken, best roast beef, best dessert, etc. Well Kevin is a compliment-boaster, too! "That is best chicken!" "These are my new favourite potatoes!" It goes beyond cooking, too. No matter what pair of pants or shirt I put on, he always says, "When did you get that? I have never seen that on you before." Even though he has. "Those are my new favourite pants on you!" "That is my new favourite top. Wear it as much as possible!" To someone like me, who has dealt with insecurities on my physique going back to early childhood, this means the world to me. To be found captivating does my feminine heart good (even when I am feeling fat and frumpy!). In everything and everywhere, Kevin is always declaring things his "new favourites." One to #4!
4. Kevin knows how to stay positive. As I said before, Kevin loves to declare his "new favourites!" With each new restaurant we eat at, trail we explore, or bench we sit on, it is always "our new favourite place!" I love his ever-evolving enthusiasm. Now, is he positive 24/7? no... I can't fathom anyone being so, but maybe that is pessimistic of me. But even when Kevin has his slumps into the dumps, it is usually temporary. Give him a few minutes of silence, and he will come back to the topic or situation and recant what ever negative comment he has made. I am a naturally sarcastic person, so it is easy for me to be negative. Kevin leads by example and it encourages me to guard my thoughts and comments and search for the positive instead of celebrating the negative.

I have listed just four, but there are many many more! These are my favourites. These are some of my awesome husband's attributes that make me miss him while he is gone and giddy as a girl when he comes home.

Now it's your turn, ladies! Whether you are wives or widows, if you have an awesome husband, go on and give him some public credit! List a few things on your blog! Don't have a blog, add a comment to this post or on facebook or twitter. And most importantly, share them with the awesome husband in question!

Want to hear some other women boast of their husband? Click on the "My Husband is Awesome" header at the top of the post and it will link you back to the Bohemian Bowmans:My Husband is Awesome

Let's give thanks to the Lord for all of His blessings!

Also linked-up with....
 

Being Happy Where You Are

  

    I have to say that I have had a great week! Despite some rainy patches, we have had nice sunny, but slightly cooler days. We had opportunities to show hospitality to friends and family through surprise drop-ins, scheduled visits, sleep-overs & a baking date. I showed off my new town this week to two dear friends. I'm very proud of this quaint little corner of Wilmot Township. It is such a change from Hamilton, my home town of which I am also proud. There is truth to the saying that a change is as good as a rest. At some point or other, we are taught that there is great merit in being content with what we have in the location where we have it. Of course that is easier when you are in a great place in your life. It is another story when you are miles away from where you would like to be. Even still, although Kevin and I chose this place because we liked it, there are adjustments, drawbacks and details that need to be sorted out still. There are days when I feel isolated and resent that the Timmies is a 15 to 20 minute walk away, but not this week! This week, I got out, went into new shops, had conversations with new people and it was satisfying!

   Partly why I am in such a good mood is because I had an awesome bake date with my sister-in-law. It is common to have more recurring chances to spend time with people over others. We both have a love for the good ol' days and, I dare say, a streak of Betty Crocker flowing through our veins. I will write more about our baking day featuring our "masterpieces" under the section In Her Footsteps later on. Suffice to say, it was such a comforting and natural feeling to be in a kitchen with my red polk-a-dot apron on, rolling pastry dough. I was nervous at the beginning because I had never tried this recipe and had never made pastry. Fortunately, neither had she. It's an elating feeling to try something new and for it to come up just as you had hoped. After some herbal tea and a nice chat, it was time for her to pick up the boys and I decided to go into town.

   New Hamburg has there sidewalk sale this week. Shop owners display their cheapest items on a sidewalk stand. I must say some deals were better than others. All in all, between two days of shopping, I have done well. There was just something so relaxing about walking into town through a shady neighbourhood. I strolled past all the store fronts with all the time in the world to spend. 

  There are some  tables that I stalked, weighing the costs and analyzing the greatness of the deals. I surveyed the books in the Upper Case Bookstore. It is a pity that the internet is slowly causing cozy little book stores to close their doors. I don't often buy my books online, but I do like to go where I can get a good price. I wonder if there is a way to balance deal finding and supporting your local merchants. Hmm... that is another topic all together. While I was in the store, I had in mind to spend a few hours in town and really make an afternoon of it. After all, I had freshly baked chicken pot pie and strawberry pie ready and waiting at home for dinner. Based on my friends synopsis, I decided that I wanted to read Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer. Deep down, I want to find myself in farm city. Up until now, I have always had a strict diet of city living, so I have had no exposure to the more traditional rural ways. I hope to change that. While I was browsing, I had it in mind to check out the kid's section. They had the book I was looking for: Anne of Green Gables. It's a Canadian classic and a treasured story from my childhood! It was the 100th Anniversary edition for $10 and I was having it!

   I finished my shopping and decided to pick up a snack. Pop, that is sugary drinks, are without question my top dietary downfall. I was in a particularly self-satisfied mood, so I thought I would increase the unhealthy factor up a notch. I bought a snack-sized bag of BBQ chips. Please note, I NEVER eat chips, so there will be a blue moon rising tonight. I should also add that by the time I got home, I felt as crappy as the junk food I consumed. But back to the nicer scenario I am trying to paint.

  Laden down with bags, I made a bee-line for the Nith River. I had a design for the highlight of my afternoon. I lugged one of the picnic tables under two trees where I could see both the dam and the little land mass in the middle of the river. I took out my snacks and flipped open one of my books. The bright summer sun made the water dazzle and sparkle. How could I not stretch out under a tall tree and read Anne of Green Gables by "shining waters"! 

   It was lovely. I felt such peace. I am in my element here in New Hamburg. In this area, regardless of what town we happen to be in, I love going out for drives and walks because the landscapes are natural beauties; rain or shine they refresh my soul. I'm under the umbrella of God's blessing. This is the season where God will give back the land destroyed by locusts. I have entered a season of joy and peace. I'm still unpacking, rearranging the house, and I need to obtain a job, but all in God's perfect timing. As He daily reveals more of His design for Kevin and I here, I am at complete rest being happy where I am.

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Ladies, Wash His Feet

In the last few weeks, many different people, sights and readings have inspired me; my mind is bursting! God has given me several special moments here in New Hamburg. I see His thumbprint on each and every one. I find my new town so delightfully peaceful. Kevin and I love going down by the river to sit, eat, talk or stroll along the bank. We have had our “morning church services” there a few times now. I bring a devotional to read and Kevin brings his passion for God’s grace. I will sit composed reading out loud with emphasis and Kevin will throw his head back and say, “Thank you, Jesus!”

We have had great times by the Nith River; eventually, I will write them all down. There is one in particular that touches on the topic of marital harmony. Now don’t think I am about to spill juicy gossip! It’s uncomfortable owning up to times of contention with your spouse, but as Jesus said, “Cast the first stone.” In one sentence, He silenced the people who like to accuse and judge and encouraged those who struggle in silence. You are not alone. You are not the first person to find yourself here and unfortunately you will not be the last. I do not care how many books, videos, premarital counseling sessions you submit yourself to, you will not understand how real life differentiates from the fictional tales of wedded bliss. It is not that marriage is a drag or unpleasant, far from it! But the still pictures we have admired in our minds during singlehood are very superficial.

Our anniversary was special. Kevin wished me a happy anniversary several times throughout the day. Our smiles shone brighter and we held onto each other tighter. We did not celebrate in what has become the traditional way. We didn’t spend money on each other, no gifts and no accessories. We didn’t go out for dinner; in fact, we took leftovers to Kevin’s parent’s house. Lol. Why? Because when you are newlyweds who are trying to be cautious with money and who don’t believe in needlessly going into debt, you don’t have the option of being elaborate. I didn’t lament it much. I wouldn’t have minded eating out, but it was cozy cooking dinner for my husband. Basically, it was a special-ordinary day that ended with us at the river at night with me in tears.

I am happy (and perhaps a bit proud) that although I remember the events of some of our fights, I never remember what started them. I say that as someone with an impeccable memory, so I take it as a good sign that we are successfully fumbling our way through effective communication and conflict resolution. Tense situations are prime for revealing your confrontation style; ours are completely opposite. I grew up with yelling (sorry Mom and Dad). We yelled and brought it all out in the open in our family and my dad’s family. I can’t comment on Kevin’s family because I don’t know, but I can say that he has a more distant approach and would rather avoid it at all cost. Me…confrontation doesn’t bother me as much. As I said, that is how we communicated with each other especially in the years leading up to my parent’s separation. Kevin and I are two different people who have become one and we need to find our harmony in all areas of our marital life (not just the easy ones!). How do we do it? Through trial and error. With me crying by the river with Kevin’s hand on my shoulder as we brainstorm tips to help us understand each other’s coping strategies. Since we got married, we have been the beneficiaries of God’s continual blessing. We have also been under continual stress. In that type of pressure cooker, it is very easy to set each other off if we don’t understand how the other person handles their stress. Here are three things that work for us:

1.    Don’t get caught in the Blame Game; it’s quick sand. Drag yourself out of there and talk.

2.   Ask questions.

a.    Do you understand what I mean when…?

b.    Were you quiet because of this…or that…?

c.    Help me understand why that made you angry?

d.    How can I let you know next time that I just need my space?

e.    What should I do to comfort you when you are emotional?

3.   If you can catch your breath and haul-butt out of the boxing ring long enough, stop and let the Spirit lead you. Pray that Jesus will guide you beyond the fight.

I have an example for number three. Back in May, I was at the beginning of the last pregnancy and I had missed my anti-Ds for a few days. My hormones were off the charts. I am not going into the irrelevant details except to say that I ended up staying in the car when we got home from an outing and let Kevin go inside by himself. My ego was hot to trot. I was not going inside until he either came and got me or called me on my cell. Interestingly, we ended up texting for fifteen minutes. It sounds ridiculous but it was productive in that it made us think before we spoke. Yet in those fifteen minutes, he didn’t ask me when or if I was coming up. He was calling my bluff. If you want an image of how stubborn I am, picture me sitting in a car with the windows rolled up during a heat wave, arms crossed, refusing to budge!

As I was digging my heels in, I felt the Spirit nudging me. Go inside. Pffft. As far as I was concerned this was a stand off. Sarah, you need to go inside where your husband is. I knew this was the Lord, so I gave in and went inside. I was trying to rehearse something nice to say. We exchanged some tense words and I could feel the urge to pick up where we left off. I went into the bathroom, took a few deep breaths, patted cold water on my eyes and went back out there. Go sit beside him. It would have been one thing if Kevin had been sitting on the sofa, but he was in the recliner, which meant I would have to sit on the floor. I didn’t move. Go sit beside him. I relented and sat on the floor. Kevin asked me to join him in the chair instead. I don’t remember what we said as we sat there, probably nothing at all. Then it happened. Wash his feet. No way! Must be something from a sermon I heard recently. That’s not actually what God’s asking me to do. Sarah, go fill up the basin with soap and water, then wash your husband’s feet. As an aside, readers, you have no idea how bad his feet smell! My Mom bought Norwex shoe deodorizer for me to use, it’s that bad! I did it, though. And as I filled the basin with cold water, I felt a peace come over me. I was convicted that this was the right thing to do. I remained silent. I spread out the towel for underneath the basin. He protested and held his leg back when he realized what I was going to do. Without looking him in the face, I shook my head and pulled his foot harder and lowered it into the water. New tears fell from my eyes as I dried one foot off and reached for the other.

Feminists keep your bras on! I did this on my own; I didn’t have to. Nor did I feel debased in the process. We were at a stale mate and emotionally exhausted. It was time to take the boxing gloves off and show Kevin that he is not my sparring partner, but my husband. God showed me how with a gift of love. The Holy Spirit had humbled me from a woman fuming in a car waiting for a fight to a wife washing her husband’s feet.

Once both feet were dry, lip quivering, I lowered my face to kiss his feet. “No,” Kevin grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up. “The only feet you kiss are Jesus’. I’m not worthy of that! Now you sit and I will wash your feet.” It was my turn to protest, but he insisted. So my knight in shining, Krown-rust-proofed armor got down on his knees for a second time and washed my feet. I felt another nudging, this is how you should resolve your disputes. When he was done, we held each other. I was sobbing. I apologized and told him I loved him over and over. When I leaned back to look in Kevin’s face, I saw that he was also crying. The conversation that followed was very precious and I am keeping it between us.

As time goes by, I witness proof that we understand each other better. Marriage is less about the “date nights” and trinkets, and more about bonding closer together against the storms in life. Blessings and favour await us because God is generous! I wrote this out as a reminder to myself. I think it may be time for us to wash each other’s feet again.

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When God Speaks to you through a Place - Inspirational of the Day

The Devotional or Inspirational of the day generally comes from something I have read or seen on the web. Over the course of the day, the Lord blessed me through several different sources: Unveiled Wife's prayer of the day; a Dietrich Bonhoeffer devotional sent to my e-mail from BibleGateway.com; a great message by Joseph Prince to start my day off; and a chapter from The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan that Kevin and I read together in the park. 

It wasn't the easiest day none the less. The depression I sometimes struggle with had the upper hand...but not for long.

The inspiration of the day was not a blog, a devotional, a podcast or a book. It was a place. After supper, I urged Kevin to drive somewhere I had never been before. He took me to the river in New Dundee. I could write paragraphs on this little spot of heaven; I'll save it for later, though.

As we sat there on a bench, Psalm 23 came to my mind. "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." 

My inspiration of the day came from a place. 

"I Love Lucy"'s Viatmetavegamin commercial (as comedic as it was) asked the right questions. Are you tired? run down? listless? do you fatigue being around people? are you insecure? Well imagine yourself in a place that has warmth from the sun beating down on your seat; peace by the still waters; shelter under the lush green trees; and a quietness that invites into the presence of God. 

Kevin and I have grown attached to a lesser-known song by Brian Doerksen called, "When You Shepherd Me." Listen to it, close your eyes, imagine a haven (the one I described or a place of your own) and let God speak to you.

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