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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Another Cherry Pie...sigh

As some of you may know by now...
I...LOVE...CHERRY...PIE.

This day, I was sooo hungry for a cherry pie and...
I had only ONE can of cherries.
I actually needed 2 more cans.
Now, if I had to take this pie to a party or something...
or
if I had "company coming",
I would have gotten dressed and gone to the store.
(well, I WAS dressed...but in pj's...heh heh heh)
and bought more cans of cherries.
HOWEVER...
it was just Mr. Sweet and myself that was going to be eating this delicious pie
and we don't really CARE it it isn't a MILE HIGH....
I keep all my cookbooks in a couple of
vintage locker room baskets.
...starting to pour over recipes...
I have used this recipe several times and,
the best I remember,
it is a good one.
Generally, if it's NOT a great recipe, I mark it "bummer"...

I saw, on some talented blog, flowers/cuttings
in three cans...
cherry...
blueberry...
apricot
and they were so cute.
I am now in the process of  saving fruit cans...
...sometimes, I wonder about myself...
a FRUIT LOOP saving FRUIT CANS...good grief !
Just look how beautiful a little bunch of flowers look in the colorful cans...
So COUNTRY FRESH...

 Actually, when you really look at the labels...
there's some darling ones.
Now we'll never look at another food can the same way !! 
haahha.....

Del Monte cans have colorful labels...
and all the fruit cans ...
the bright reds of tomato sauce cans...
O, and some of the coffee cans are cute, too.
(I can just hear GLORIA laughing her head off at me lovin' can labels !! )

If you think you might want a few  cute cans, filled with flowers from your garden this spring and summer....
start saving the cutest ones now....
I have a whole shelf in my pantry filled with
EMPTY CANS.
(and Mr. Sweet's eyes will NEVER roll back into place again..!!)

This is one of the best cookbooks I have ever had.
It is also the last gift from my little mama.
4 months later, she was gone.
23 years later, I am still broken hearted.
♥♥♥
While the pie is cooling in the window..
just like my mama used to do...
I made some of the little
PIE CRUST STICKS (just like my mama used to do for me)
that we all love
with the left over pie dough,
sprinkled with sugar and a big helping of cinnamon,
sooo
let's have a hot cup of tea and the
whole plate
of pie sticks !!


When sadness fills my heart at missing my mother,
I make a big pot of
CHICKEN AND DUMPLINS
or a
WHITE CAKE WITH FUDGE ICING
or a
a  FRUIT PIE..
that I ALWAYS sit in the window...
just like she  used to do.

All of these are my comfort foods and
I can just see her smiling at me when I say...
"Mother, I am NEVER going to be able to cook as good as you."
and her saying,
"Probably not, Jeanie, but you can dance better than me!"
;))
I am linking with:

BLUE MONDAY
 MOSAIC MONDAY
RUBY TUESDAY
TEA WITH THE LADY
REDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

50 comments:

nannykim said...

Great idea about those cans! I just wish my cat wouldn't eat fresh flowers and puke!

Blondie's Journal said...

The end of your post put a lump in my throat. I have many cookbooks my mother gave me as gifts. In her final weeks I used to cook meals for her to freeze. Sometimes I open a cookbook and the grocery list or a list of the meals falls out and it makes me so sad. Still, I keep them in the books to know what I made for her.

Cherry pie is one of my favorites. Your pie looks pretty good with only one can! You have really inspired me to start saving fruit cans. I also love the jars that pasta comes in, some are very pretty!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

XO,
Jane

Debby said...

What a sweet post about your Mama. Love the new banner.

Anonymous said...

Great idea and nice post!
Kisses.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Isn't it wonderful how many of our memories involve FOOD! cherry pie is my hubby's favorite and he always wants me to make extra dough for LOTS of cinnamon twists! He rolls them up like pinwheels though! I love cookbooks and favorite dishes! Hugs to you, my friend! ♥

Anonymous said...

I haven't made a pie in a long time, BJ, but I think I will, just so I can make some crusts...love those things and they always bring back happy memories!

Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. said...

What a lovely post in memory of your mother. Your pie looks delicious. I wish I were a better pie baker. And thank you for the tip about starting to save colorful cans now. They will look so cute with flowers come summer!

Unknown said...

BJ...you had me from cherry pie! Sweet memories of your dear Mom. My Mom always did the pastry sticks too....I like that almost as good as the pie and I am ALL ABOUT the pie, lol. I love the idea of using fruit cans for flowers. I will have to make some pies so I can save the cans for the flowers that will be on their way this spring :)

Blessings!
Gail

On Crooked Creek said...

BJ,
What a precious memory! Why is in cold weather and snow bring on thoughts of comfort foods. . .and our Mamas? ? ? Working on a blog On Crooked Creek about MoMa and Mother~in~law. Like your pie. . .it's sittin', waiting to go to post.
You warmed my heart, dear friend! I truly believe daughters never outgrow missing their Mothers!
Fondly,
Pat
P.S. Tell "Mr. Sweet" my South Carolina Aunt had us save can labels for her country kitchen. She used them to wall paper the banquette area! It was COUNTRY!

Anonymous said...

BJ,
What a sweet post! Sounds like your mom had the same sunny wit and personality you do!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Bj, that sure looks good to me. I laughed about your husbands eyes never rolling in the right place again. Cute idea with the cans. Real cute! Also never thought about using pie crust to make cinnamon sticks. Yum, I love cinnamon.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I also love cherry pie. It was my Dad's favorite and so as a young girl my favorite also! I loved my Dad so much. Cute cans with flowers!

eileeninmd said...

Your cherry pie looks yummy and what a great idea to make the cinnamon sticks. Cute idea using the cans for your flowers. Thansk for sharing.

Donnie said...

That was such a sweet post and tribute to your wonderful mother. I know she must have been wonderful to raise a daughter like you.

Kathy said...

Yum!! Those pie sticks look so good. I've never had them before. But, I think the next time I make a pie I will. This was such a sweet post. I could just feel your pain in missing your Mom. God Bless you.

Stacey said...

Well you know I love pie! Just made oatmeal cookies with little mini chocolate chips. Mmmmm.

Terri Steffes said...

Yummo. Seriously. I haven't had some good pie in ages. It will be on my list to do soon!

Lynn said...

Hi BJ! Such a nice post! Hope you have a great week:@)

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Very sweet post for your Mom. We never quit missing our loved ones who have gone before us, do we???
Your cherry pie looks yummy.
What a sweetie you are!
xoxo

Phyllis said...

Hey Jeanie,

What a sweet post (literally and figuratively). I was laughing at you in the beginning of the post about hubbie rolling his eyes over you saving cans. Actually, it's a really cute idea and one I think I'm gonna have to try.

I love cherry pie too. And I'm glad to see somebody else makes the little treats out of leftover pie dough, although my mom and grandmother rolled them into little swirls. Such a treat when I was a kid!

Abramyan Avenue said...

Such a sweet post BJ! Just the other day I was going through my cookbooks and found one that my mother had given me right around the time I left home and got married. I love the idea of putting fresh flower in cute cans. Such a neat idea!! I can't wait to try it out!! Thanks for sharing such a lovely post with us!
-April

Picket said...

Hey girl...loved my visit here and those fruit cans are adorable..I have alot of cans with labels I save..I need to go unpack them and use them...hope you had a glorious holiday season and that your birthday was the best so far...that pie looks awesome and I love hearing you talk about your mama...love you sweet friend...Picket

A Garden of Threads said...

What a nice tribute to your Mom. I will be saving cans for put flowers in, they were so pretty. Pie crust sticks are the best.

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about missing your mama. I am 60 ; almost 61 and my mother died almost 17 yrs ago at 63. I still miss her so much. Veronica from n.c.

{oc cottage} said...

Oh, those cans look adorable! But anything would in your kitchen...it's just one of the cutest I have even seen!!


m ^..^

Mary Bergfeld said...

I just loved this post, bj. Lots going on and never for a second boring. How lovely you still have the book from your mother. I hope you enjoyed that pie. Blessings...Mary

Marie said...

Gorgeous cans.

Rita said...

What a lovely touching post,I am in awe. Your words touched my heart.Love those cans with the flowers; bringing spring to our bitter cold temperature right now; thank you.

From the Kitchen said...

I have enjoyed your thoughts about your dear mother. I feel the same way about mine and remember her especially when I'm in the kitchen! I can imagine my husband's eyes rolling back ala Mr. Sweet's but I love the can idea. I've used empty tomato cans to hold flowers for a spaghetti dinner and have some flowers right now in a fruit can. I think we are just great at repurposing--how frugal of us!

Best,
Bonnie

Theresa said...

Oh how sweet BJ! I miss my Mama too after all of these years! She passed away in 1988 and the memories are so alive in my heart! So many things that I do, I can see her smiling down on me from Heaven!

Love your cherry pie and thanks for the tip on the empty cans! You are so smart! Have a blessed day my friend! HUGS!

Maggie said...

Your mosaic of flowers in cans is lovely, and the cherry pie looks delicious.
I love to collect cook books and read them like some people read novels.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I have saved a huge olive oil can and I am going to fill it with sunflowers this summer to set on my outdoor dining table.

Your cherry can is adorable. I know about missing mom....I miss mine ever so much. I have a lot of her hand written recipes, and feel her standing next to me when I am making something from them.
Hugs,
Penny

Jen said...

What a sweet post. I lost my Mom last October and know I wil be grieving for some time. I wish I could make bread like she did.

Jeannette

SmilingSally said...

I miss my mama too, BJ, but as long as you can dance...

Happy Blue Monday!

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi BJ,
What a sweet and delicious post!
I love cherry pie too!!
Such a great idea to use pretty cans as vases...now I'm going to save cans and I can just see Gary's face now...LOL
Have a sweet day, we are having lots of fog today not fun driving in it...
Big hugs, Elizabeth

gengen said...

It is a sweet post indeed. Happy blue Monday.

Salmagundi said...

My grandmother used to roll up the cuttings from the pie crust into tiny, little cinnamon rolls. What a treat - almost better than the pie! Sally

Maria @ LSS said...

Oh, I can almost smell the pie!

Happy Ruby Tuesday!

Mine's here.

Sue said...

You got to me with this one. I'm really early in this process of missing my mom, but I don't think I want it to get "better". What I mean is that I'm glad that I'm no longer crying every day or walking around in a dazed shock, but I like the fact that she still seems so close to me. I think missing her so much keeps her closer...I don't want her to be a distant memory. I guess it is still too soon...but I know from all the things you've said to me that you still keep your mom close to you.
I like that.

Cherry pie sounds yummy. I always do the cinnamon scrap trick too...yummy!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

BJ, all of those goodies look yummy. And I love your cute containers with the numbers and that cute LOL mug. Love your idea of the flowers in cans. How cute! Loved this post, and love you, too...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Awwwwwwwwwwww, Dear One, a sweet but bitter/sweet entry.

But you know how to beat these blues, when they hit! You know how! Good for you.

Lot's of gentle hugs...

Hugs & ♥'s...
'Cause Valentine Day is coming!

Carletta said...

I want pie!
I loved this post and the flowers in the cans are shabby and chic!
I'm going to save me some cans. :)

Lynn said...

What a tender post, BJ. Your Mama must have been a dear, sweet soul. And now I must say I am HUNGRY! Thanks for this visual treat. It was a joy to read.
~ Lynn at Cottage and Creek

LV said...

What a pleasure it would be to indulge in a big piece of the cherry pie.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Well BJ, my mother is still with us but in a nursing home, robbed of her memories. Gosh, you got me thinking though. She would do the same thing with the leftover pie dough only roll hers and call them cinnamon rolls.
I have her cookbooks and many have notations or recipe cards inside with her beautiful handwriting...
It is so nice to remember the good times with our mothers, we do so many things the way 'they used to'.
Judith

Robin said...

What a beautiful post. Food has such a power to transport us, whether to another place or even to another time. I'll think of your mother next time I eat a slice of cherry pie.

-----------------------------------
My photography is available for purchase - visit Around the Island Photography and bring home something beautiful today!

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my....the ending!

This brings back so many many wonderful thoughts of my mom today.

As you....{{sigh}}

and oh the memories.




My Ruby Tuesday Link

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post.html

Hope you are having a glorious day!!!

Mona said...

nice entry for this ruby tuesday, i'm starving with your pie.
have time to visit my entry here

Becky said...

What a wonderful tribute to your Mom! I love everything about your Ruby Tuesday post. Cherry pie is probably my favourite fruit pie, but I hardly ever think to make one. Over the New Year weekend I baked one for the first time in years. It was so good.

I also love your idea about using the fruit cans with their colourful labels as vases. I've saved those and vegetable cans for years and used them as containers for plants on the deck. But I never thought of the vase idea. Thanks!

Happy RT.

Lady Katherine said...

So sweet as a pie post about your Mama! I do not think we ever stop missing our sweet Mama's! I love the flowers in the cans! I save mine, but peel the labels. lol Now maybe I will keep them on! I love the pie in the window, your tea and pie crust you make with the left overs. I know they make such a delightful Tea, with thoughts of your Mama and you! I do love the bin you keep your cook book in. How I need one! For mine had to go to the library in the parlor, for I had no more room. Thanks for joining me for Tea Time