I grew up in Michigan, and it seems like everything under the sun grew in our backyard. At least 3 varieties of apples, plus peaches, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, innumerable veggies, and of course, maybe, currants.
Mostly I have painful memories of all this largesse. Picking peas, putting them in a sack. Shelling peas, and putting them in another sack. Washing the peas, and putting them in yet another sack, bound for the freezer. Actually, it wasn't so bad. I put a pound of peas in my stomach for every pint I put in the sack, and to this day I only eat raw peas. I detest cooked peas. I was brainwashed at an early age. Only the freshest for me, please.
I also remember picking raspberries and eating them out of my hand, sometimes getting a stinkbug in the mix but not realizing it until it had already been squished between my molars, which is so GROSS to remember that I can hardly ever think about it.
I have vivid memories of picking (and eating) pretty much every single thing we grew. Except currants. And that's so funny, because I remember currant pie as being my absolute favorite kind of pie. A kind of pie that I haven't tasted since I moved to AZ when I was 12, but that I dream about every third Thursday from 1:00-1:20 a.m. (which totally explains the drool on my pillow). Currant pie, to me, is childhood, easy-growing gardens, family and not caring how many calories are in a slice.
I named my blog after this elusive memory. Where did it come from? Dad? Did we grow currants in Michigan? If so, why don't I remember picking them? Unlike every other edibility we had, I only remember eating them. Maybe I've blotted the work from my memory so I don't taint the deliciousness of it all. Kind of like writing. Until the moment I sit down to do it, I'm pretty sure there isn't a shred of even a single idea in my head, and I dread the work of it. Then I sit down, and poof! I find the work is delicious to me, and the rest is all forgotten.
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4 comments:
Currants probably tasted extremely good after eating a stink bug or two! If I ever find currants...I will make you a pie. If you ever find currants, bring them to me and I will make you a pie! If I make you a pie...can I taste it? I've never had currant pie!
I vaguely remember hearing about currants in my lifetime. Maybe not... I've never seen those before! Sad.
They do look good- but they look like they would taste like tomatoes. What exactly do they taste like?
Tony detests Peas too- what did your mom do?! Probably overcooked them till they turned that gross dull greenish gray color? Yeah, those are no good. They must be bright green with a little butter and salt- and then they are delightful!
Currants (be still my heart) are a tart berry, a little bigger than a pencil eraser, mostly skin and seeds and some pulp & juice. Current pie is tart like ruhbarb pie (be still my heart. They grow in clumps on the bushes. We had two bushes that produced about enough for 2 pies a year. And with mom being the best pie maker in the universe we had it goooooooood.
We did have a couple of currant bushes. As you looked at the garden they were on the right back side--kind of by the raspberries. I remember picking them. I grew them in Utah when I lived in a house. I love them too! And Dad is right--mom made the best currant pie!
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