The VERB Writing Ezine - December '07

Welcome to The VERB!

This holiday season, I am working hard to become a Pie Master. We love pies around here—pumpkin, peach and apple as well as blackberry cobbler—but we usually buy them at the grocery store or our favorite restaurant. The few times I've made a pie, the crust resembled something almost as tasty as a slab of wet cardboard. These babies were so memorable, I was politely asked to never make them again.

But this year, I thought, no, I must overcome this obstacle. And I won't take the easy road (box or frozen pie crusts), I'll travel the same narrow path as my dear old granny. Because I never know when I might be stranded on a fruit tree island, with lots of flour and butter around, and my very survival depends on creating edible pie crusts. So I need to know how to do this the old-fashioned way.

I consulted Ina and Alton, and quickly spotted my problem. The reason my crusts never resembled crusts is that I totally ignored temperature. Everything must be cold!

That's it? That's it.

I threw all my utensils, including the bowl, and ingredients into the frig overnight. I even dropped ice cubes in my water prior to spooning it into the mixture. The result? Well, when I tell folk I've made a pie, they no longer gag and run out of the room. My crusts are now golden, flaky, mouth-watering layers of lusciousness! Matter of fact, these delicacies are turning out so well, I plan to give them as Christmas gifts. Our mail carrier, especially, will be surprised. We always slip a little something into the mailbox for her, but this year, she's getting an entire pie! Ho, ho, ho!

I would share my crust recipe with those of you who are interested, but there's really no need. If you keep everything bone-chilling cold, any recipe should work. Give it a try!

And now . . . as I dust the flour from my hands, I want to thank you so much for hanging out with us another year. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your highs, your lows and, most of all, your writings. It is a pleasure to know you.

May your holidays be filled with warm food, soothing drinks and the company of those who support your dreams.

Elizabeth Guy
Editor

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This issue
was published
under the musical
influence of

ELVIS PRESLEY
If Every Day Was Like Christmas