baking a pie

Baking pies has always intimidated me.

It was something best left done to the experts.  It was too difficult.  It was a complicated process that I wouldn't have the patience for.  It was just too hard for me.

I wasn't making any pies, but I was making a lot of excuses.

Still, there was that small, still voice calling me to baking.

Make a pie, it whispered.

There were no further whispers of encouragement.

Just 'make a pie'.

So I stalled.  I practiced making cookies instead.  Cookies were small.  And then I baked a cake.  From scratch.  And it was good.

Still no pie.

Banana bread, pumpkin bread.  Check.

Make a pie, the voice still whispered.

How about chocolate mousse?  Pork carnitas?  Spaghetti squash?

Make a pie.

Finally, the voice had been whispering long enough.  So today, I made my final preparations.  Gathered my ingredients.  Read my recipe.  Did all my training, you might say.  And then I made my pie.

It just came out of the oven.  And it smells delicious.

It is not pretty.  First attempts seldom are.  But it is finished.  I am at the finish line, and it feels great.

Running can be like that.  That small, still voice whispers "run a marathon".  "Do a 50 miler."  "Run across your state."

It is scary.  It might be best left done to the experts.  It might be too difficult.  It might be a complicated process that you just don't have the patience for.  It might be too hard for you.

Then again, you might just find yourself at the finish line, your sloppy first effort in hand.  And it just might feel fantastic.

What is your small, still voice asking you to do?

If you'd like to try your hand at making a pie from scratch, I highly recommend the instructions from smitten kitchen.  I made this apple pie.

 If you are craving carnitas, she's got a fabulous recipe for those.  You will feel like a total rockstar when you whip up a batch!