6/27/07

Sow and Reap (Yummy Strawberry Pie)

I think of these gifts that I have been handed: Eyesight, a good mind, an incredible family, leadership abilities, a home, means of providing a good meal, and a connectedness to friends around me.

These numerous gifts make me so grateful. They actually increase my joy to think about them.

Now if I take these gifts and am generous with them, I get so much more in return.

Hospitality can be generated in so many ways. We don’t all share the same passions, so it makes sense that it could be practiced in a variety of ways like:
Sharing from our yard & garden, cooking for teachers at school, volunteer work, ministries at church, in your home, in your neighborhood. Everyone has a place to impact our world in a hospitable way.

Abby and I went to a farewell party a few nights ago. A good friend of hers is moving away and we will feel her loss tremendously. Shelby and Abby have been friends for years, originally meeting through school. When I say to Abby, “friends are like a bouquet of flowers … the more you have, the more beautiful the bouquet is,” one of those beautiful flowers in the bunch would be Shelby.

I decided that we would take some of the remaining strawberries from our abundant crop this year, and teach Abby how to make a pie.





As we spent time in the kitchen washing the strawberries, stemming and cutting them, we made the cookie dough crust (recipe to follow) and I walked Abby through the steps. We also took the opportunity to discuss friendships and the importance of them.

Abby was so excited to take her “strawberry pie” to the event. When Daddy returned from a camping/fishing trip with her brothers, right as we were to leave for the party, he gave strict orders to bring him back a piece of pie!

Hopefully my daughter learned this simple concept through this experience of making a pie: that giving generously (sowing) results in great rewards (reaping) in the form of wonderful friendships, and lesson learned in life.

Yummy Strawberry Pie

Crust:
1 ½ c. flour
1/8 c. sugar
1 tsp. Salt
½ c. oil
2 Tbs. Milk
Whip oil & milk with fork; add dry ingredients. Press into pie pan, flute the edges, and probe with fork. Bake 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

Glaze:
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
2 Tbs. Cornstarch
Cook until thick and clear.

Add: 3 Tbs. Strawberry Jello (straight from the package) to the glaze and stir. Cool.

Fill the cooled piecrust with berries. Pour glaze over the top and refridgerate. Eat the same day you make the pie (crust can get soggy if you wait too long).

ENJOY!

(Great friends ... Abby, Shelby & Sofia)

21 comments:

Tracey said...

Sandy, I am a frequent visitor to your site and occasional "commenter", but I wanted to take this opportunity to say that I think it's wonderful the gift of hospitality that you have and the way you are teaching that to your daughter.

I love to entertain, but you're right (like you mentioned in an earlier post), we can get so busy with "stuff" that sometimes it becomes an inconvenience.

I hardly know my neighbors and I am going to try to do something to change that.

I always look forward to clicking your site each day. What a wonderful ministry!

Much love!
Tracey

Laura said...

I absolutely love the last picture. What a treasure! And of course the pie looks scrumptious. I've bookmarked it to try with my own daughter.

Keep the ideas coming!

Laura

Tracey said...

I tagged you today!

Donnetta said...

Your thoughts on friendship touched my heart. I so enjoyed the "friends in a boquet" quote. It was the first I have heard it but loved it!

As for the strawberry pie, it's my husband's all time favorite. We have an anniversary coming real soon. Maybe I'll surprise him with one of these... homemade! Thanks to your recipe of course!
:-)

Unknown said...

OH! Aren't they just beautiful!!

Perhaps you could have the last photo framed and give one to all three girls?

Overwhelmed! said...

That strawberry pie looks fantastic! How sweet that the girls helped to make it. :)

By the way, my new niece is not named Emma. Thank you for your guess.

Darla said...

Abby and her friends are just darling. She must have been really proud of her pie and you must be really proud of her.

Darla

Jane said...

You mention making food for a teacher. As a teacher, I have recieved some lovely homebaked goods and truly appreciate all of them. One veteran teacher at my school had a very long commute and was looking kind of tired, so a mother in the neighberhood began making her a plate of their evening meal and bringing it by the next day at dismissal. This teacher SO greatly appreciated the love and kindness in this gesture as well as the sustinance for her long commute. You are so right, hospitality can come in many forms and sharing your talents is a gift to everyone around you.

Tammy said...

I am always so blessed when I come here, Sandy! Especially since my gift is NOT hospitality, at least it doesn't come naturally for me, I am both challenged and encouraged here often! :)

I love the picture of you and your daughter...and the ones of the girls, too, so sweet!:)

Thanks so much for the recipe, too- yum! :)

Jill said...

Sandy- To me, strawberry pie just has "mom" written all over it. I'm sure strawberry pie now holds sweet memories for your daughter and her friend.

PS- LOVE, LOVE your dress in the first photo. Do tell....

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

Sandy, I stopped by here so hungry because I'm weighing in a Weight Watchers in a couple of hours! This looks so delicious. As for linking your doggy with hospitality or entertaining, you could make homemade doggie treats. Serious!

Kathie said...

The post, the pie, and the women are lovely!

MorningSong said...

Thanks for visiting my site today! I can see there is plenty I can learn by visiting your blog!! It is evident that you love giving and sharing life!!

Many blessings.

Christine said...

That looks so good! We went berry picking a couple of weeks ago, or I would make it with fresh ones!

I have a gift for you at my blog. It might not fit your image here (so you don't have to display it) but you deserve it!

Diane @ A Watered Garden said...

Thanks for the recipe...and the encouragment to reach out to those around us. I know your daughter will draw on your example many times as she grows and matures. You have a lovely blog. Blessings, Diane

Anonymous said...

I have a recipe very similar to this and can I just say YUM!! Thanks for sharing, Sandy....
And I love the photos!! The last one of the three girls is adorable...
And your dress in the first one....love it!
~Debi

Anonymous said...

Ahh, beautiful girls and a beautiful lesson shown...blessings!

Tammy said...

PS...I just nominated you. Come take a peek! :)

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, sweet Sandy, my mom used to make the most yummy strawberry pie, so this brings back some good memories. She hasn't made them lately...I'll have to ask her what happened?!

What a nice thing to do with your daughter. You are passing on your creativity.

Rhoda

willzmom said...

This is my favorite pie recipe! It bring back many great memories, especially when I pick the berries myself! Great pictures.

KATEE said...

love this post! thanks for the encouragement!

:) so timely... that's what I want man!