Blueberry Hand Pies

June 29, 2010 • Recipes, Simple Classy Series

Well here’s one way to be just a little more welcome at that backyard barbecue slash fourth of July gathering you might be heading to this weekend. Maybe you were thinking you’d bring the usual baked beans, chocolate cake, or an addictive-can’t-say-no-to pasta salad. And oh, the friends you’ll make if you do. How about a Blueberry Handpie?

It’s simple as pie to make–pun intended because I’m corny like that. Oh, I can remember many Fourth of July holidays filled with the usual picnic dishes like potato salad with mustard and then there were the few years mommy decided the mustard just didn’t cut it anymore and she made it with just mayonaise. I don’t think anyone noticed but me. Then there was the macaroni salad made like the potato salad only with macaroni and it had sweet pickles. Deviled eggs, baked beans and barbecuing over Kingsmen charcoals that produced that outdoor cooking smell that surely meant a feast was soon to be had. We were never poor but I grew up in the days that credit cards were unheard of or at least if they heard of them they didn’t own any. So that meant every penny was accounted for and things like junk food and cans of pop were not a familiar commodity in our home. No, our junk food was home made. Cakes, cookies, pies, jello and the occasional ice cream that was hand churned by a crank. Somehow, fourth of July produced all sorts of things we weren’t used to like fire works, fizzy soda pops, and sparklers–my favorite. Oh sparkler just how do you throw off sparks that don’t seem to burn? That’s not true about the discarded already burned out ones though–you know the ones someone threw down on the ground and always seemed to find itself under my shoeless foot. Ouch! Of all the wonderful holidays there is one fourth that to this day deserves a standing ovation.

Daddy decided that the festivities of July the fourth were to be enjoyed at Harris Riverfront Park on our boat right smack in the middle of the river–at night. Can you imagine? It was a sight to behold. And they let us bring a friend. We had the best seat in the house. And though the beautiful sky was illuminated with color that the river magnificently reflected and certainly a thrill for me then and even now as I remember, nothing excited me more than the drive back to the docks. There was no light except the spot light my genius dad brought along to light our path through what seemed to me a trek into a deep dark fluid filled wilderness. Our feet dangled over the sides of the bough of the boat and nothing, I mean nothing could be seen except for what the spot light revealed and that proved to be a means in which to reflect against objects in our path way rather than light it to actually see where we were going. It was quiet and peaceful and by far the most thrilling experience I had ever encountered. There was a mysterious calm that was thick and eery yet enchanting as the darkness enveloped our little world in what appeared to be a very small boat compared to the vastness of nothingness that surrounded us. Except for the elevated pitch of concern in my mother’s voice as she pointed out random logs that floated in the water, silence was prevalent and the only reminder that we were alone on the river in the dead of the pitch black night. It only added to the allure of the moment. I was in my own little world imagining all sorts of adventures. I don’t know if my parents realize what an awesome night that proved to be. It is a vivid memory that I tried to recreate for my own children but for various reasons it never happened. It is my hope that you have a blessed holiday. Spend time creating memories that as you can see will stick well into adulthood.