Blueberry Pie

This was the third time that Lilia had baked blueberry pie to practice for the county fair. Lilia arranged the dough in the pie pan, trimmed it, and then covered it with a linen cloth. She had enough for another pie, but nothing to put in it. She looked in the freezer: there were frozen peas, corn, green beans, baby carrots, and some chicken breasts. I'll make a homemade chicken potpie, thought Lilia. She loved to experiment with ingredients. Lilia thawed the chicken breasts in cold water, placed them in a baking pan, and seasoned them slightly with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. She placed it in the oven at three hundred fifty degrees for forty-five minutes.

Now, while that's cooking, I'll make the blueberry pie, she thought. She rolled out the dough, covered the pie tin with the uneven slab of dough, and snipped off the excess. Lilia prepared the gel mixture for the blueberries, retrieved the blueberries, and mixed it all together. I think I'll try a little of this ingredient because it's dark and will add a little texture, she thought. Lilia rolled out the top crust, arranged it on the pie, and snipped off the excess. Then, very methodically, she pinched the crusts together with her two thumbs all the way around the pie. Lilia poked the uncooked top a with a fork, and sprinkled it with sugar and cinnamon.

The chicken finished baking. Lilia removed the chicken from the oven, and replaced it with the blueberry pie. She whisked together the ingredients for the gravy: gravy coloring, cold milk, a little flour, juice from the pan, and a little salt and pepper. She uncovered her previously prepared pie crust, and placed the peas, corn, green beans, and carrots in the pie crust. She shredded the chicken, tossed that in with the vegetables, and poured in the gravy. Lastly, she rolled out the top pie crust, placed it on the pie, secured the pie crusts together as before, poked it with a fork, and smeared a little butter on top.

When the blueberry pie finished baking, Lilia switched the pies and placed the chicken potpie in the oven. It's time to set the table, thought Lilia.

Her mom had worked in the garden for the last two hours. I'd better call it quits and get supper ready, she thought. When she entered the kitchen, the scent was tantalizing. She smelled an aroma of cinnamon, blueberries, and some other spices that she couldn't identify. "My goodness, it smells good in here, what are you making, Lilia?"

"It's a surprise for you, dad, and Gramps. Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes. Could you alert everyone?" Lilia announced in a business-like manner.

Francine felt stunned. Was this her outdoorsy, can't-sit-still daughter? The tables had turned! Francine cleaned herself up, rounded up Jacob and Apelehama, and they all sat down for the mystery meal. Lilia filled glasses with water and ice cubes, and then added a slice of lime. The three adults acted as if they had never met Lilia before. It seemed that wearing her mother's apron had magically changed her into someone else!

Lilia carved the chicken potpie with her mother's good crystal pie cutter. The heavenly scent wafted from the steamy concoction and filled the air. Lilia served them one by one, and then suggested, "Let's say grace." She said the blessing while all the adults sat there speechless. They feasted on homemade chicken potpie that was mouth-watering good.

"How did you think of this, Lilia?" asked her astonished mom.

"There was too much dough, so I took what we had out of the freezer. I'm really getting into this cooking thing! I love to experiment with flavors and spices," Lilia replied winningly.

Jacob and Apelehama seemed to have lost their tongues. They ate appreciatively and stared at Lilia with over-sized stupefied eyes. Who is this girl, and what have you done with Lilia? Jacob wondered.

Lilia cleared the dishes and queried, "Would anyone like dessert?"

A unanimous, "Yes" answered the question.

Lilia cut each of them a generous portion of blueberry pie, and topped it with vanilla ice cream. They ate in appreciative silence with only an occasional "M-m-m-m-m-m." They finished it all, down to the last crumb.

"That was unlike any blueberry pie I have ever had the pleasure to eat," her dad finally spoke up as he dabbed his mouth with his napkin. "There's something different about it."

"This is the pie I'm going to enter at the fair. Did you like it?" Lilia asked with curiosity.

Her grandpa broke his silence, "It was wonderful, but there is something a little different about it. What is it?" Her mom, dad, and grandpa eyed Lilia attentively.

"Coffee grounds."

"What?" All three stammered.

"Coffee grounds, I told you I like to experiment with flavors," she commented as she smiled sweetly at the flabbergasted adults.