I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since I’ve baked a pie. Our family is planning a move, work has been busy, and our house is on the market (what’s more fun than super-fast cleaning up??). All of this stuff has cut a real slice out of my pie time. This evening, though, I managed to get in a quick sliver of pie-baking, much to my family’s delight.

This afternoon, when I was looking in a kitchen cabinet for something else, I found some wonderful mini pie dishes that I bought many months ago at a church yard sale.When I first saw these, I fell in love with their tiny-ness (because the only thing better than something is a tiny version of that something) and also with the delicate little apple drawings on the inside of each dish. I think my favorite is the tiny basket of tiny apples.

We always have apples around at our house. Everyone here likes them, but especially my son. He’s discriminating, though, and often leaves even slightly bruised apples lingering in the fruit drawer. His rejects were perfect for tonight’s Mini Apple Pies.

It only took about four small apples, peeled and chopped, to make enough filling for these four little dishes. Also, I only used one store-bought crust to line all four pies. I used the leftover bits to make little hearts for the top of each pie. The filling was just apples, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and flour.

Mysteriously, it takes the same amount of time–about 45 minutes at 375 degrees, to bake these tiny pies as it does to bake a large one. There’s a math problem there, but I sure don’t know what it is. I just know that these little pies turned out perfect!

We had salad and chili stew for dinner. About halfway through the meal, my son announced with no reservations “I’m only eating this stuff so those pies will GET IN MY MOUTH.” Alrighty, then. Honesty all around.

My husband was not quite done working for the day, and he thought for a moment about saving his pie till later. I warned him that there was no way it would ever taste as good later. He caved and ate it right away. There is nothing in the world like warm pie. Nothing.

I finished my little pie, very satisfied, and gazed out the window as a steady rain began to fall. I chastised myself for putting those little dishes way up on the top shelf. They brought me–and my family–lots of yummy happiness. I won’t wait as long to bring them out again, and I think I’ll store them in a more “up front” spot.

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

  –Stephen Covey

If something brings you joy, make it a priority. Forgive me, little pie dishes, I won’t neglect you for so long next time!