The Apple Pie Tradition
One sunny afternoon, Lily was in the kitchen making her famous apple pie when her young daughter, Mia, wandered in, curious as always. As Mia watched, she noticed something peculiar: Lily carefully peeled the apples before slicing them, tossing the skins into the trash.
“Mom,” Mia asked, tilting her head, “why do you always peel the apples before making the pie?”
Lily paused mid-peel, then smiled. “You know, that’s how my mom taught me to do it. I guess it makes the pie better.”
But Mia wasn’t satisfied. Together, they decided to visit Lily’s mom, Eleanor, to uncover the reason behind this tradition.
When they arrived, Lily asked, “Mom, why did you teach me to peel the apples before making pie?”
Eleanor chuckled and shrugged. “I’m not sure! That’s how Grandma Rose taught me. I always assumed it was important for the pie. Let’s call her and find out.”
The trio called Grandma Rose, who lived a few towns away. On the phone, Lily explained the question, and Rose burst into laughter. “Oh, that’s funny! I always peeled the apples because my mother did it that way. I never really thought about why. You should ask her!”
Determined to solve the mystery, they all decided to visit Great-Grandma Clara, who lived in a cozy cottage by the lake. Over tea and cookies, the four generations of women finally posed the question:
“Great-Grandma, why did you always peel the apples before making pie?”
Clara let out a hearty laugh that filled the room. “Oh, my goodness, you’re all still doing that? I only peeled the apples because, back in my day, the skins were tough and bitter. These days, apples are so much better, there’s no need to peel them!”
The room erupted in laughter, and Lily shook her head, amused by the long-standing tradition born of a forgotten problem. From that day forward, Lily made her famous apple pie with the skins on, saving herself time and effort—and giving Mia a delightful family story to pass down.
The pie tasted just as delicious, and now it came with a little extra sweetness: the joy of a mystery solved and a tradition reimagined.
