Gather Journal
Fall/Winter 2014 Issue
A Separate Piece
It was the ultimate treat at my house growing up: A freshly-baked, made-from-scratch sour-cherry pie, redolent of almond extract, extra chewy with tapioca pearls and a little burnt around the edges — just the way Dad liked it. We didn’t come by them very often, but on my dad’s birthday, we were guaranteed to see my mom rolling out the pie dough. Later, we would all hover by the oven, waiting to swoop in for a taste of the tart, gooey treat as soon as the timer went off. My mom eventually learned to make the pies in sets of two so we could all partake in Dad’s favorite post-birthday tradition: pie for breakfast. But when you go from a household of six to a household of two (as I have), pie-making becomes a weighty endeavor. Literally. Recently, I came by the perfect solution, just in time for the advent of fall fruit season: hand pies. The right size for an individual serving of pear or apple goodness, and easily freezable for anytime enjoyment. Plus, there’s the instant gratification factor: pop one in the microwave for two minutes and you’ve got a little slice of heaven, just right for one.