"Give a Piece a Chance." — Books. Blog. Pie Classes. And a Pinch of Activism.
Beth M Howard Every apron has a story. From Left to Right: 1) a Christmas present from my friend Carolyn, who I’ve known since junior high. This one is my favorite for its rich red color and its small ruffle. But it wrinkles far more than the others and I won’t wear it unless it’s ironed. And I … Read more
My mom emailed me this message (see below), one of those forwarded kind that I ALWAYS delete. But this one, well, I don’t know who wrote it, but clearly it was someone who gets the concept that The World Needs More Pie. And I’d like to believe you don’t have to be born before 1979 … Read more
Yesterday we drove to the neighboring village of Arteaga where they have a weekly Sunday Market. Arteaga is where they grow apples. Butted up against the mountains, it is slightly higher in elevation than Saltillo, thus slightly cooler enough to accommodate apple crops. I’ve made my impatience known that I am beyond ready for apple … Read more
Thank goodness I brought my pie-baking supplies to Mexico. I never dreamed my pie plates would be put to such good use…As an ash catcher for the anti-mosquito coil that burns in our bedroom all night.As a moat for the dog’s unfinished breakfast — keeps the ants out.As a dish for salting the rim of … Read more
They’re growing. (Picture taken 5 Aug 08 in front of our house)When you have a pecan tree growing up through the middle of your house you begin to think about subjects previously ignored, like the care and feeding of a pecan tree. Or, for that matter, where pecans even come from, besides Trader Joe’s fruit … Read more
“A” is for Amor (love)…for the love of pie, and oh so much more. (Look closely, there’s an “A” in the middle of the pie.) Here it is! The first pie produced in our new house in Mexico–and the first “American-style” pie baked by my artist friend, Ines de Leon. Perhaps it’s Ines’ artistic talent … Read more
Ines de Leon is my first friend in Mexico. We met in May (2008) when my husband and I were house hunting and got fed up when the relocation agent showed us one too many generic, overly insulated, American-style houses. “Show me a place where a Mexican artist would live,” I begged. “A place with … Read more
No need to wait for apple season to make a fruit pie. It’s PEACH season! Or durazno in Spanish. This little neighbor and her four brothers and cousins show up at our door twice a week towing their wooden wagon filled with produce from their grandpa’s farm. Last week it was zucchini. They are an … Read more
My friend Susan, a journalist, emailed me an article last week about using Twitter, a new social networking/”micro-blogging” vehicle, to promote your book (or whatever it is you want to promote). I read the article then sent Susan an email telling her what I thought of it, and included one passage of the article that … Read more
My husband got transferred to Saltillo, Mexico — otherwise known as “the Detroit of Mexico” — and I agreed to move with him. When I left Portland I thought my pie baking days would be put on hold. Until I learned that Saltillo is known not only for making cars and trucks but also for … Read more