"You know that I could use somebody - someone like you!"

This is a picture of my first homemade pie. Yes, I have never made a pie from scratch before. I have a number of friends (and a great mother & a wonderful mother-in-law) who have all made their own pies. I am not one of them. Today, while preparing for the greatest ex-patriot Thanksgiving ever, I made an apple crumble pie and 2 pumpkin pies. The apple pie is entirely from scratch - crust and all. The pumpkin pies seem like a cheat considering that the pumpkin filling comes in a can and only needs a few spices and evaporated milk. Also, I used ready made crust for the pumpkin pies. I only have so much motivation.

I was thinking of my mother when I made the pies. She has this great plastic cutting-board like sheet that has circles telling a cook just how long to roll out his or her pie crust before putting it into the tin. I remember that plastic sheet vividly as well as my mother's large rolling pin. I felt like a total amateur with my little modern rolling pin (which sucked) and no plastic sheet or idea as to how large to roll the very dry crust.

I used the classic "Better Homes and Gardens" NEW cook book for my recipes. I like them because they are very specific for noobies like myself. It even includes pictures which I find very helpful. I'm never sure what the food is supposed to look like in the end.

I have come to realize that the Thanksgiving memories I have been bemoaning for my children are now my responsibility. I miss my family, RKZ's family and even America in general, but that won't help me create lasting Thanksgiving memories for my boys. I had to laugh today when just the sight of the completed pies sent RKZ into holiday over-drive. Buck was already racing around the house yelling, "mmmm, PIE!" At that moment, I realized that (huge generalization comin') men might actually have FOOD memories about Thanksgiving and that the food is the high point for them. Imagine my shock. It's not the "touchy-feely" sharing and staying up to all hours drinking wine and remembering? They simply remember all of the wonderful food and smells? Incredible.

So, I am making some smells for my boys - smells that don't have a country. And I'll be making a lot more of them tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving until then!