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| Joyce Maynard and I at the spectacular Alamo Drafthouse in Kansas City To see my interview/baking lesson with Joyce, click here |
Let's review the movie first, shall we? (Read on for Joyce's Pie Baking Video and the complete recipe)
"Depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. (Sort of) As police search the town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited."
Rated PG-13 for adult themes
click above to watch the trailer
The trailer is a little tricky, so don't make any assumptions. Things aren't always what they seem.
Told through the voice of Adele's (played by Kate Winslet) 13 year old son, this is a story for those of us who hope for second chances. Once a woman with grand dreams of being a dancer and raising a beautiful family, Adele is left a broken woman, hanging on by a thread
You will feel very sad for Frank (the hunky Josh Brolin); it's obvious early on that he is a good man who made one bad decision. It's no surprise when we begin to feel Frank has been sent to save Adele; and not the other way around.
As their love
story unfolds, it is easy to say "who would really do that?" And "well
that is just insane." I ask you to just remember why we love these
movies in the first place. Real life isn't always romantic and we don't
always take the risks we should. Just let it be. Enjoy the ride that is this movie.
The pie scene was basically the "pottery scene from Ghost" played out with peaches in the kitchen, but when I met Joyce Maynard, who wrote this story, I didn't really mind at all. She is a true romantic at heart, and this was her story to tell.
If you have ever lived in a small town, you will find yourself cringing as Adele tries to casually make changes in her life. The nosy neighbors, the bankers, the local police - everyone acts as if they have a right to know her business. I understood this part of the movie all to well..... It was also the part I hated the most - but it was so true.
All in all it wasn't a bad movie. Keep in mind my favorite movie of 2013 was The Wolf of Wall Street, so obviously I like movies that are "Rated R for a reason." If you are in the mood for a sweet love story that doesn't cross any boundaries in the rating system, you will be happy you went.
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A Lesson In Pie Baking
I was lucky enough to spend some time last week with Joyce Maynard and she taught me the secrets to her fantastic pies!
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| We were having a very deep conversation about romance for the over 40 crowd |
Joyce has an online tutorial for baking the perfect pie. Just click on this link to see how she does it!
Joyce Maynard Teaches Pie Baking
And here is her wonderful pie recipe from the movie "Labor Day":
‘Labor Day’ Peach Pie
Makes 1 9-inch pie
3 lbs. peaches, peeled and sliced
¾ cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar, divided
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca, divided
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
¾ tsp. salt
½ cup vegetable shortening
1 stick plus 1 tbsp. chilled butter, cut into pieces
⅓ to ½ cup ice water
1 beaten egg
1. In a large bowl, combine the peaches, ¾ cup sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir in 2 tbsp. tapioca to help absorb juices. Let stand, stirring occasionally.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, work in the shortening and 1 stick of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tbsp. of the ice water over the flour mixture, stirring gently with a fork. Continue adding the water just until the dough holds together. Shape the dough into a ball and divide it into two discs, one slightly larger than the other.
3. Place the smaller disc on a sheet of waxed paper, and use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, dust it lightly with more flour. Lay a 9- to 10-inch pie pan face down on top of the circle; flip the pan over and remove the paper. For the crust, on a sheet of waxed paper, roll out the other disc to form a 14-inch circle. Do not roll the dough more than necessary.
4. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tbsp. tapioca on the bottom crust. Add the peach filling, mounding it in the center, and dot with remaining 1 tbsp. butter. Lift the waxed paper with the remaining crust and flip it over the filling. Peel back waxed paper. Trim the edges of the crusts and pinch together the top and bottom crusts. Brush the top with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tbsp. sugar. Poke fork holes or cut vents in the top crust. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
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