Thank You Grandma!

Our grandma passed away recently, and while we miss her, we are happy in knowing that she is now free from pain, and with all of her loved ones that have passed on before her.

Grandma left us a wonderful legacy of faith, family, hard work and making lots of delicious food. She and Grandpa were always working. When I would go stay with them, it was always fun to help out in the garden or orchard with Grandpa, and then prepare wonderful food with Grandma in the kitchen for the meals of the day, or to can and preserve for later use. I remember working alongside Grandma canning vegetable soup, grinding wheat for bread, making raisin filled bars, carrot cakes and rolling out pie dough with a couple of my cousins over to help. Grandma always did things in a big way. If she was making pie, it never was just one or two. It was always a lot for a big crowd (our family). She made great use of her freezer, working on days when she had time for baking, and then freezing the goods to pull out later--usually when company stopped by. Company was always offered some kind of refreshment, whether it was a slice of pie and ice cream, cookies, or a full blown meal. In her later years it got harder for her to get around, with constant pain in her feet and back, but she was ever the gracious host, having plenty of ice cream in her freezer and ice cream cones in the pantry for her guests.

Thank you Grandma for taking the time to teach me, and letting me work alongside you. I am so grateful to be a part of your family.

~B.M.

Grandma's Pie Dough
3 3/4 cups flour
1 3/4 cups shortening
Cut in shortening with flour until pea size. Then make a batter with:
3/4 cups flour
3/4 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
Add to shortening mixture. Roll out for pies.