The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-15
TimotIy's Mothers Pumpkin Pies.

the stove to dry, where
II don't care anything about the seeds"
interrupted, II want the pie"
"oh, well then you scrape II all out
nice with a spoon-an iron spoon. Have
you got an iron spoon, Dorothy?'
NO" ] answered; won't any spoon
do?"
Iron ones is the best; and in piekin'
out one, remember that kinder short
handled one Is best for such purpose,
and one that is--'
We'll, how about the ple?'
Eyes, you shall have 1t. You cut it
all round in rings you know, and then
you peel 1t all clean. You want good,
sharp knife, a stout one, too. You've
seen my old bread knife, haven't you? !
got that when l was first married, ana
I've used 1t ever since. You ought TO
have one. They're handy things in the
kitchen. / remember Timothy's father
said"
What do you do next?' l asked get
ting almost impatient.
"Why, child what a hurry you're in.
Be you goin' to make 'em right away
this minlt?"
1 thought not If / had to wait to learn
how from her.
"Then cut 1t all UP into pieces about so
big-measuring with her fngers-and put
1t all in a Kettle and stew it,
''Do you put water in?" | inquired.
"Of course, 1t would burn If you didn't;
but not much. Stir it every little while
with your iron spoon. You must have
one"
How long shall l cook it?" / asked
why, TIL it's done, of course"
"How'll / know when it's done?" VEN
n ba nj
lady thought me a Ounce in the culinary
line.
'Why, 1t will be all soft. you know.
and kinder mushy like, like apple sIss;
you know how that Is?
"Oh, yes; l know so much. Then how
do you make the pie?'
Just as you would any pie, only the
inside Is filled with custard, and you
don't have no top crust"
well, how do you do IT," / persisted,
feeling determined 1t shouldn't be my
fault, it, after this, what [ knew about
pumpkin pie wasn't all thore was to be
known.
"You take some of your pumpkin and
put 1t in a basin or pan or bow, or little
pail, or anything you happen to have
that will hold all you want to fix; pu:
In some milk"
HOW mucnY' L asked.
"oh, I don't know; it depends on how
much pumpkin you have; put in a pinch
Of salt"
looked at her fingers to see now
much one of her "pnches" would be-
Take some eggs
How many?" 1 asked.
"oh, well, child, just as many as you
can afford. Some take more and some
take less. And sugar; and then put in
ginger or spices or cinnamon, or all
these, just according to taste stir il
all up together and bake it,
How long?" was my next query, feel
Ing that the l)nger | listened the more
didn't know.
why, until they're done good. No raw
pumpkin pies for me-"
How will | know when they're done?"
Il was growing desperately
wen, when you think they're done.
Just take knife and part 1t in the mid
de and see how 1t looks, and If It seems
kinder thickish like. and don't run nor
look milky, it's all right"
"Oh, dear zee how what looks? The
pie or the knife? And which looks milky?
And put the knife in the middle of
what?"
1t was all mixed up In my brain. but
this much l found had gained as | re-
viewed the lesson so patiently tod me.
knew now that 1t took eggs, and milk
and sugar and salt and cinnamon, gin
ger, or spices. l kept saying it over
70 myself ash went about my work after
Tlmothys mother had gone, and made
up little tune and kept singing la !
ioftly to myseif-even adding another |
Inc of my own composition to make out |
1 whole verse.
Egg, mix, sugar, salt
Cinnamon, ginger spice,
Tlmothy's mothers pumpkin pes.
Very fine and nice.
! tried the recipe one day, as near.y as |
could, from the confused ideas | had |
gained, and the result was an improve
nent ON my first attempt, though the
pie was not like mothers" after all. |
md didn't blame her son for saying so.
we ate some OF 1t, though 1t cut like |
'heese, and our throats smarted for an
lour atter our repast, owing to the over
lose OF cinnamon, ginger salt and all
'plce Then / wrote and got Nora's re-
'ipe In full and she added In a startling
postscript, mostly made up of capitals:
'SHuRe and Don't PUT IN 2 muQCH
lf tHE PunKoN. YouSE pLlnty of
MILK"
Remembering the emphatic caution, /
sed all the milk had in the house, ana
hen hailed passing miikman ana
ought another two-uulrt pail full The
onsequence was, when | took my pies
rom the oven there was only the crust
nd a brown blister over the bottom OF
he tin, The pumpkin was almost as
hick as the crust-not quite-by actual
Measurement. Then | gave up and con
,uded couldn't afford to be making
astry for my neGAbors' cats and dogs
quarre. over 80 for time we bought
nr pies, nut they We're not "like moth
IS ana one day, in.dlsgust | made up
" mind, and made Il up TO stay. that /
ouli know how to make pumpkin pies
| ha1 to learn all by myself ard pend
ie remainder OF my life In learning, So
began cautiously experimenting, adding
little here and leaving out a .itt.r there.
Imothy all the while supposlng they
ime from the bakery. saying now ana
EN-;
II believe they must have new baker
'wn at Browns shop; these pies are
eat deal better than they used to be-"
Aren't they most rs gnci as your
other's?" | asked, one day.
why, of course, they are not like
rs, he said, but then, FOR bakers pies
ey are exceptionally good"
One day Timothy's mother came over
see him ON business She arrived in :
e afternoon and must return next day !
the ll:20 train, | had some pumpkin i.
ready stewed, ready for pies and ,,
ppy thought struck me-she should
axe the pies. The next morning l tied ,
big glngham apron around her port.y y
rm, and she went at Il. she attended /,
me Oaking of them an. and then she !,
Id to 30, At dinner time | BROUGHT a n
eee to Timothy, II was the kind that n
as dark looking and strong tasting. !
9 uldnt seem to have much OF an ap- y
ute for It. Finally ne spoke: q q
Just what | was waiting for. That =
lker,s got his old man back. guess, -
MS doesn't begin to be as good as those II
eve been having lately"
thought so myself but | said. "vVhv
ar don't this taste like your mothers
e. eltherp"
mo. not one bit On. Dollyl wish
~ eoud eat some of her pumpkin Die 4
lce" f'N \
Once VIII do, I thought We never have II
'ppened to be there In the right season II
r H. O
What do yoI say TO coming out there p
ID speading H few days this fall?" e
on, yss" answered. for we always e
A niiAA Of e.. 4