My first year during my masters program I did a lot of projects concerning the meaning of home: what is it? where is it? is it a place? is it within? can it be created? is it physical or a feeling? It was wonderful having the [mental] space to be able to explore this and be able to break it down for myself. I was able to discern what I had learned (from urban planning) and what came from and resonated within me.

Home has always been of particular interest to me and I really haven’t strayed too far from that idea with everything that I do, particularly concerning eating. Home still has a lot of meanings and manifestations for me, but one of my favorites is being able to share the experience of home with others through food. Everyone has a different association when they think of home (as a place) and a food that is associated with it. You can literally take that ‘place’ with you anywhere you go and share it with others through taste. Personally, I believe home comes from within, a peaceful state of mind. Of course, having this peaceful state of mind can be helped along by creating a lovely and loving environment, someplace you can feel safe, even cocooned.

Coming home also has many different meanings for me. I’ve ‘come home’ many times, both in a physical sense after a trip or becoming ok with things. There was a period in my life where things were difficult and I made them more difficult on myself through negative thinking. Then someone said to me: you wouldn’t say those things to your best friend, would you? No! I thought, I never would! And this has stuck with me, helping me ‘come home’ to myself whenever I need it.

Tomorrow, I am helping my friend Lacy do a thank you meal for all the women in her life who helped her on the road to recovery from anorexia. Lacy is ‘coming home’ to herself more and more everyday which is apparent in every way. She is such a strong woman who has been through a lot, making strides every day. For the meal, one of the things we are going to have there is a braid made out of her tiniest clothes, the clothes that don’t fit her any longer and need to move on. The braid turned out to be about 15 feet long and will drape along the length of the table. Each guest will be able to cut a piece off and take home as a remembrance of the meal as well as helping Lacy move forward and lift the burden, lightening her load if you will. I will have pictures and more detail about the meal after tomorrow:).

Coming home to something homemade is a true expression of affection. I love filling the house with inviting scents and favorite tastes, especially for those I care deeply about. For me, Baking is an expression of love. Andrew was out of town for about a week hiking in southern Utah with his brothers and a few friends. The day he came back I made him his favorite pie, blackberry. Using freshly picked blackberries are best which you can find at a fruit stand this time of year! He liked it .

Home has many different variations for all of us. For me personally, it is being at peace and feeling safe with myself and with others; it is as much a state of mind as it is a place, the two go hand in hand. However, ‘place’ happens when more than just yourself is involved and that feeling of peacefulness and safety is extended to those you care about through an environment.

Welcome Home Blackberry Pie

Filling:
3 quarts blackberries (three cartons/containers)
2-5 tablespoons sugar (depending on how sweet the blackberries are)
1-2 teaspoons cloves

Dough:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup earth balance (1 stick)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
5-10 tablespoons ice cold water

Cut butter into the flour and salt until crumbly, add the vinegar and water and mix until a ball forms (I use my hands, it really helps, the wooden spoon can be so awkward sometimes). Take half and roll out on a floured surface. When big enough, lay over pie pan and cut the edges so there is still a little sticking out over the sides. Do the same with the second half. Add the berries to to dough, cover with the second pie crust, pinch down the sides, and cut vents in the top. Bake at 350 for about 50 mins or until bubbling.

Bon Appetite!