Sunday, November 8, 2009

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

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Thankfully, I know the secret to a good marriage. Learn something new about your spouse everyday, a ladies magazine extolled.

Putting this into practice has proven slightly difficult. My husband and I spend a great deal of time together. We share a room. (I realize that most couples do that.) We eat most meals together (Still not ahead on the togetherness scale, you say?) We carpool. (So?) We work together--our desks are side by side. Given all this quality time, it can be hard to learn something new everyday.

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So, those days when I learn something new about J are red letter ones indeed.
When I was on maternity leave, I would lie in wait for him. I ached to speak to an adult and to wash away the banalities of the day with conversation. My husband on the other hand wanted quiet after spending the greater part of the day attempting to engage others, often teenagers. Our conversations would have a sort of jetlag quality. After the girls went to bed, I would start fast sharing all about my day,interesting tidbits from NPR, things I read here or there, ideas for recipes. When I was well into the second or third topic, J would finally pick on on the first.

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It was on one of these nights that we had our strangest argument to date. I started with an interesting way to make a whole thanksgiving dinner in one oven at once, vegan pies for my daughter’s friend with food allergies, and then something from NPR about the election issues. At the last point, J looked up from his magazine. He eyes widened. The charming green of his eyes looked uncharacteristically cold. He wasn’t smiling. I rarely speak about politics. Casual conversation about political issues only serves to disquiet me. So, I braced myself for a rant about whatever issue. But, instead, J began to discuss pies with a strange earnestness.

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Apparently, that evening we would be fighting about pumpkin pie. Like a high school debater, I took up the con only to improve my skills. Sacred tradition, silly obsession with lilliputian proportions, hocus pocus and weird ingredients were all uttered; I finally countered with the lowest blow—but the poor little boy has never had pumpkin pie. And, like all good marital arguments, this one ended with laughter. J had somehow missed why I wanted to make allergy-free pies. And, he wasn’t interested in denying a boy his pie.

Later I asked J why he had been so belligerent. I didn’t know you felt so strongly about pumpkin pie, I said. Neither did I, he replied.

Vegan Pumpkin Pielets or Pies if you prefer

19 comments:

chakhlere said...

wow those tart look so yummy!!simple and delish.

Johanna GGG said...

Thank goodness for arguments that blow over with such ease. I hope the little boy enjoyed his pie - I am sure I would have!

Heather S-G said...

Funny. I've always felt pretty strongly about pies, too :) These look tasty.

shaz said...

Such cute little tarts/pies. Boy, you and J sure do spend a LOT of time together! Hubby and I used to have "different conversation speed" issues until we worked out we were on directly opposite ends of the personality scale - suddenly it all made sense.

grace said...

of all the things that people get het up about, i never would've expected your first spat to be about pie. how funny. yes, funny. i'm glad everything ended in laughter...and pie. :)

Soma said...

;-)

Love your writing. I didn't get around at that time, but wanted to let you know that your post on the macarons was the best ever "happy feet" post. Loved it.

NKP said...

They are so cute!
I can't believe you have side by side desks.. that might be too much togetherness for me!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

That's interesting to read. I love those little cutie pies that you made.

FoodJunkie said...

He, he, good story! Is your maternity leave already over? That is very soon isn't it?

Y said...

Nothing wrong with sacrilegiously small, magical, vegan pumpkin pies. Amusing that it became the focus of an argument!

Reeni said...

What cute little pielets! I love the coconut milk in them - rich and creamy.

glamah16 said...

CS has green eyes that can get stormy, so I know that look! Glad you found a great recipe. Pumpkin and cocnut goes hand in hand.

Anonymous said...

So true, we learn something new about our spouse everyday. Every single day :)

Julia @Mélanger said...

Sounds like one of the silly 'debates' I've had with my husband.

These little pies look delightful. I love how you have rolled the pastry corners!

I love the idea of trying to learn something new each day. I'm quite nosey, so that's a great mantra to live by!

Veggie Belly said...

these mini pies are super cute!

Alicia Foodycat said...

My marriage wouldn't survive so much togetherness! Those pies look lovely and velvety. I hope the little boy liked them!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Those little pies look great! I have never had pumpkin pie before, believe it or not.

DianasaurDishes said...

What a great post! It was so funny I had to share it with my husband and we both enjoyed it immensely. We're together a lot too, though we've only been married a little over 2 years so we still have lots to learn about each other. Love the idea of mini pumpkin pies.

Coconut Recipes said...

Looks delicious!