The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-02-02
CgG gomr Clrtlr.
Apple Pie.
BY HENRY WARD REEoHER


How often people use language with
out the slightest sense of its deep, in
terror meaningI Thus no phrase is
more carelcssly or frequently used, than
the saying, "Apple-pje order" How
few who say So reflect at the time upon
either apple-pie, or the true order Of
apple.piel Perhaps they have been
reared without instruction. They may
have been born in families that were
ignorant of apple-pie; or who we're left
to the guilt of calling two tough pieces
of half-cooked dough with a thin streak
of macerated dried apple between
them, of leather color, and of taste and
texture not unbecoming the samoan
apple-piel But from such profound
degradation of ideas we turn away with
gratitude and humility, that one so un-
worthy as we should have been reared
to better things.
We are, also, affected with sense of
regret for duty unperformedi for great
as have been the benefits received, we
have never yet celebrated as we ought
the merits of apple-pie. That reaec-
ton shall not longer cast its shadow
upon US.
"Henry-go down cellar, and bring
me up some Spitzenbergs." The cellar
was as large as the whole house, and
the house was broad as a small byra-
mid. The north side was windowless,
and banked up outside with frost-defy.
ing tan bark. The south side had win
dows, festooned and frescoed with spi-
ders' webs, that moved their tapestries
over every corner in the neighborhood,
and when no flies were to be had, ate
up each other, as if they we're nothing
but politicians, instead of being lawful
and honorable arackRidG. On the east
side stood row of cider barrels; for
twelve or twenty barrels of cider were
a ft.provision for the year-and what
was not consumed for drink was expect
ed duly to turn into vinegar, and was
then exalted to certain hogsheads kept
for the purpose, But, along the mid
die of the cellar were the apple bins,
and when the season had been propiti-
GUS, there were stores and heaps of
Russets, Greenings, Seeknofurthers,
Pearmains, GilliAowers, Spitzenbergs,
and many besides, nameless, but not
virtueless. Thence selecting, we duly
brought up the apples. Some people
think anything VIII do for pies; but the
best for eating are the best for cooking.
Who would make jelly of any other
apple that had the Porter? Who would
bake or roast any other sweet apple,
that had the Ladies Sloeeting, unless,
perhaps, the TaIman Sl0ee? and who
would put into a pie any apple but
Spitzenberg that had than OF with
their iaoketsl Fill the great wooden
bowl with the sound roguesl And now,
oh cook, which shall it be? For at this
point the roads diverge, and though
they all come back at length, to apple
pie, it is not matter Of indifference
which you choose There is, for exam
pie, one made without bottom paste, in
deep plates, and the apples laid in, in
full quarters; or the apples being stewed
are beaten to a mush, and seasoned, and
put between the double paste; or they
are sliced thin and cooked entirely
within the covers; or they are put with
out seasoning into their bed, and when
baked, the upper lid is raised, and the
butter, nutmeg, cinnamon and sugar
are added the whole well mixed, and
the crust returned as if nothing had
happened.
But oh, be careful Of the pastel Let
it not be like putty, nor rush to the
other extreme, and make it 30 faky
that one holds his breath while eating
for fear Of blowing it all away. Let il
not be plain as bread, nor yet rich , 3,
cake. Aim at that glorious medium
which ii Is tender without being fuga
ciously dskyi short without being toe
short; a mild, sapid, brittle thing, tha
lies upon the tongue, so as to let Oh,
apple strike through and touch tho pa
pIla with a mere efHuent favor. Blu
this, like oil high art, must be a thinl