Friday, October 1, 2010

A Very Special Occasion

I'm not one to cook everyday.  In fact, I thank the lord that my sweet husband, known affectionately as Bad Rooster (his initials are B.A.D.), likes to cook so we manage to eat pretty well around here.  What I do like to do is bake, particularly on special occasions.

Several days ago, I read a post by my friend Lynn (http://alittlebluesky.blogspot.com/)
about how hard it is for her to bake with her daughter Brenna, who has some vision issues.  Lynn was commenting on how difficult it is for Brenna to follow recipes that she can't see very well.  Basically, Lynn needs to read her the recipe and Brenna "just has to trust that Mom is getting it right."  Well, it got me to thinking...

What occasion could be more special than baking with the intention of providing instructions in big print and lots of step-by-step photos to guide Brenna through the process.  So then it became a question of what to make.

When I was in college my boyfriend at the time loved pie and his mother, Glenrose, made the best pie crust I'd ever had.  So I asked her if she would teach me how to make it and she agreed.  I still make pie crust the same way today and have sort of become known for my pies.  So that is the lesson I chose to pass on to Brenna.

Earlier this week I gathered all the ingredients to make pumpkin pie.  I recruited Bad Rooster to stand on a stool next to me and take LOTS of pictures; his payment was the finished pie and pumpkin is his favorite so it wasn't hard to talk him into it.

I'm still in the process of pulling it all together -- editing photos, taking a few additional pics of tools and ingredients and writing the instructions, but its coming along. 

Here's a few pictures from the big photo shoot, and the finished product:

Basic tools...

and ingredients...

a little elbow grease...

flute the edges...

into the oven it goes...
  
 don't forget the decoration...

sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, please... and voila!

We have pie!  Looks yummy, doesn't it?

I had some extra pumpkin left over, so tonight I made this...
I have a feeling the treadmill and I are going to be
spending a LOT of time together this week.

Thanks for stopping by to share my special occasion dear friends;
I hope you enjoyed baking with me.


13 comments:

  1. That's a very sweet thing to do for Brenna, Susan! Your pie and the bread look both delicious!
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs to you,
    Julia

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  2. Susan,
    I tell you what. YOU ROCK!!!! I cannot wait to see Brenna's face when she gets to bake on her own. You truly are the epitomy of what blog land is all about. Communication, friendship, reaching out. Love it.
    Love you!!!!
    lynn

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  3. One thing I love about blogging is the generosity of other bloggers! This was a very thoughtful thing to do, Susan! I'm looking forward to reading more...I am a new follower!

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  4. brenna is my niece and I love her to bits. Thank you sooooo much for doing this for her! I hope I'm there visiting when she makes your fabulous pie. Bad Rooster is a great photographer and you are a wonderul person

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  5. What a great thing you have done here. I am following you now, that is not a small thing. If you get a chance to read my blog I am struggling with too much of the meaningless fluff. But this is exactly the kind of thing I want to post and read.
    Debbie

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  6. What a great big heart you have... That is so wonderful... And you pie looks Yummy...

    I hope you are having a happy day..

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  7. This is the sweetest thing!!! That's one of my favorite blogs, too, and I can't think of anything any nicer.

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  8. Yum! Great idea and very thoughtful of you! Thanks for visiting with me!

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  9. Oh Susan...
    You are oh so sweet to be thinking of such a wonderful gift for Miss Brenna. She & her big sister & Lynn have been to my shop & I ADORE them!!!! She will be thrilled to able to cook by herself, what a beautiful gift you have given to such a beautiful girl!
    Big Hugs,
    Susie

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  10. I just saw Lynn's post on Brenna's Cook Book. Susan you are a blessing! Thank you for your kindness to another.
    Debbie

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  11. The book turned out so well, Susan! It was so nice of you and I bet Brenna loves it!

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  12. Hi! I just had to come over and see for myself who this lovely and generous woman was who did this for Lynn and Brenna. That was so incredibly thoughtful and I just love the depth that we can go to here in blogland...far beyond just decorating and recipes we can actually do life together!
    Blessings to you,
    Vanessa

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