My contribution to tomorrow’s holiday meal is dessert - apple pie and blueberry pie. They say that cooking is an art, but baking is a science. Perhaps that’s the underlying reason for my baking success.

That, quality ingredients and some good old fashioned elbow grease. I’ve had pretty good luck with the frozen wild organic blueberries from the local Trader Joe’s. While I was there, I picked up some organic granny smith apples to mix with some empire apples from the local supermarket. Good ingredients, but nothing hard to get.

What really makes my pies stand out are the crusts. I make my crusts from scratch - nothing but flour, butter, shortening, salt, and water mixed with a fork and a bowl. It’s a bit of work, but you realize that it’s worthwhile with the first bite.