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www.FredParent.NET 13 I've never been good at sharing my feelings of affection with others. Perhaps I am a bit of a cold fish. It took me weeks and weeks to uncom- fortably reciprocate my first "I love you" to my husband many years ago, after the poor guy had no problem offering me his sentiments. I'm not a hugger or a touchy-feely kind of woman. I don't get that warm, mushy feeling when I see little babies, and I am better at offering a devil's-advo- cate perspective rather than sympathy when others have problems. But despite this, I do feel things intensely. In fact, my heart is a deep, deep cavern of emotion and sensitivity, and it can ache all the same when oth- ers are suffering and when the world seems bleak. Cooking is my heart's language to convey its love and solace. On this particular day of helplessness, I decided to make a berry pie for my family. I headed to the farm to pick some fresh raspberries and blackberries. The tiny scrapes on my fingers from thorns were soothing as I felt good about using fresh, local and healthy ingredients. I returned home to knead my homemade pie crust. After letting it harden and cool, I was having a difficult time rolling it out and into my pie pan. It was start- ing to break and fall apart, so similar to how I felt the rest of the world seemed to be fracturing lately. I ditched my rolling pin and pressed the dough into the pan with just my hands, each indentation feeling restor- ative as I was able to mend it and eventually transform my broken dough into a proper and fitted crust. I mixed the berries with sugar and poured the sweetness into the pan, baking until perfectly bubbly and melded. I fed my family the sliced treat, watching lovingly. I don't like pie, but I somehow felt better and just as nourished as they enjoyed it. If I can feel helpful and beneficial by cooking for my family, how else could I put this toward assistance for others? Could I feed more people? Could I help with hunger in some small way? Suddenly I started to realize ho w small and intimate acts of benevolence can be the stimulus for larger ones. Cooking for loved ones might not change the rest of the world, but it's where selfless love can begin. And right now, it seems the world needs all the love pie it can get. INGREDIENTS: 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons vegetable shortening 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 to 4 tablespoons ice water DIRECTIONS: 1. Pulse the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the shortening and pulse a few times until coarse crumbs form. Pulse in the butter until just com- bined. There will be some pea-sized pieces remaining. Pulse in the vinegar and 2 tablespoons ice water until the dough starts to come together but is still crumbly, adding more water if needed. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a small circle. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight. 2. Preheat oven to 425 F. Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface; then ease into a 9-inch pie plate, pressing the edges. Refrigerate until firm, at least 20 minutes. 3. Fill with your favorite pie filling and bake until golden brown. PIE CRUST NOW OFFERING Birthday Parties • Before and After School Care Holidays & Summer Camp Our action filled program includes: Skills sessions in a variety of sports Academic Support Arts and Crafts • Bounce House www.fredfieldhouse.com (540) 361-4717 Competition was fi erce at the Children's Museum's Trikes for Tykes September fundraiser which raised $17, 000. Teams rode adult size Razor Trikes down Prince Edward Street between 10 and noon. From noon to 2 children enjoyed a festival at Hurkamp Park. FredPt in the community CMOR would like to thank the sponsors: Mary Washington Healthcare Wegmans The Surgi-Center of Central Virginia Other sponsors included: Children's Museum's Trikes for Tykes Fundraiser Jamie Van Doren, 16, prepares to dodge water balloons on her ride for the Fredericksburg Parent Magazine team. Fred Parent Magazine Edward Jones Habalis Construction, Inc. Reid Engineering Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation Hyatt Place Monkees Route 3 Carwash Simply Home, LLC Sprelly Therapy Toolbox Union Bank and Trust, Van Zandt Restorations