We're never too old to try something new, and I decided to try something that is really quite old, but new to me. I made Mulberry Pies.
Al took an old sheet out by the mulberry tree and laid it out on the ground. Then he shook the branches of the tree and in no time at all, he had a gallon of mulberries.
What to do with mulberries.... I googled mulberry pie and came up with several recipes. I took one of the recipes and added a suggestion someone had posted: Add Chinese 5-spice to the mulberries. I happened to have some and decided to give it a try.
4 cups mulberries
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
3 TBSP tapioca or flour (I added a bit more because someone said the pie still came out runny)
1 tsp. 5-spice (Cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves and nutmeg)
I wasn't crazy about this recipe. It was a bit too spicy for me. My neighbor had a piece and thought it was heaven. I think it had too much ginger in it, so I decided to make a second one to take to the Father's Day BBQ we had at my sisters. This time I didn't use the 5-spice, but just added a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg.
When my dad arrived at the BBQ, he asked me if I had made it with sugar (he's diabetic), and I had to tell him yes. He was so disappointed. I asked him if he had ever had mulberry pie, and he said that yes, his mother used to make them. He told me how when he was a little boy, he would take a sheet out and put it under the tree, shake the branches and take the mulberries to his mother. She would then either make a sauce they had for dessert, or she would make a mulberry pie. He was so anxious to taste one once again.
I didn't taste the second pie. One of my nieces ate a piece, then hinted that she would like to take some home, if there was any left. I told her she could, and she took the remaining pie home except for one piece that I left for my sister. It must have been good or she wouldn't have taken it with her.
Now I need to get some more mulberries so I can make a pie for my dad using Splenda. Al said they're about done, so if I don't get to it soon, it will be next year before I can try it. We'll see if I can take the time tomorrow to make one. Tonight, it's questionable. Dad said not to worry about it, but it would be a nice surprise for him, wouldn't it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Yes, you should definitely make a pie for your dad. I know he'd be tickled. Can diabetics use stevia? I've heard it's a better alternative to artificial sweeteners. Kathleen says she remembers Grandma Smarty making mulberry pies. Kathleen suggested you add some pie cherries to boost the taste a bit. She says she thinks Grandma Smarty added cherries. Kathleen also suggested nutmeg. She says Grandma Amanda Smith used to add a lot of nutmeg to her pies. Kathleen also said Grandma Smarty and Amanda added a lot of sugar to pies and other desserts as they liked things SWEET! I don't remember Grandma Smarty making mulberry pies. Guess it was something she did in the "old days" before I came along.
Post a Comment