Morning in the Kitchen
Pre-read & Edited by
Illustrious Q, El Oso
====================
Through the kitchen window of the Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse, the sun and onlooking birds could glimpse a rare bounty. The counters near the window were stacked high with apple-tastic treats. Apple tarts, so light and flaky you’d mistake them for clouds, sat next to bowls of applesauce that glistened like the pots of gold fabled to be found at the end of rainbows. Caramel apples, wearing their sugary shells like fine jewelry, stood in the shadow of towering apple-cinnamon cakes.
Yet, all that paled in comparison to the pies. A dozen pies were laid out on a separate counter, held aloft by cooling racks. Their sweet smell filled the kitchen, and their perfectly browned crusts were like the exterior of a treasure chest holding the sweet valuables within. It was a feast, and yet, Applejack continued to work. She was mixing another batch of apple filling as the family's apple-themed cooking timer sat next to the stove, counting down a few final minutes.
“Just the two zap apple pies in the oven and then these two here, and I’ll have everything done,” Applejack said as she was adding the final ingredients to the bowl.
“Now, Applejack, what did I tell ya. These ain’t no zap apple pies. Do ya see zap apples on them trees? Did ya forget the jar of jam you added for the filling? These are zap apple jam pies. They’re darn good, but call them by their right name.”
“Yes, Granny,” Applejack replied with little thought, chuckling as she stirred the bowl. Soon enough, the filling was done, and it was time to get the dough. She went to the refrigerator, drawing out the perfectly-chilled pie crust dough, removing it from its bowl, and setting it on the flour-dusted counter. She then reached for the rolling pin.
“Now, you better not be rolling out that big lump of dough. Flatten it with your hoof first.”
Applejack couldn't help but chuckle again as she put down the rolling pin she had only just grasped. “Yes, Granny." She rinsed her forehooves in the sink before beginning work on the dough. With firm presses, she flattened it out bit by bit. She paused only a moment, to cough and sniffle a little into her shoulder.
“AJ, are you getting sick? I won’t have you baking pies when you’re sick.”
Applejack shook her head. “No, Granny. Just… just a little something in my throat.”
When the dough was mostly flat, Applejack reached for the rolling pin but also a small bowl of flour that had been set out on the counter. She gently cupped some of the flour in her hoof and shook her leg over the dough. With each little shake, she brought a gentle snowfall of flour down onto the crust.
“Atta girl, Applejack. That pie crust will be a whole lot easier to flatten out with a little flour. Now, don’t forget to put some flour on that rolling pin too, and did y'all have flour on the counter before you put that pie crust down?”
“I did, Granny,” Applejack said, her hoof already applying a layer of the finely ground flour onto the rolling pin before beginning the process of rolling out the crusts. She rolled and rolled, the gentle, rhythmic sound of the rolling pin's strokes like the ticking of a metronome to the dance that was known as baking. Back and forth, back and forth, until all the dough was spread thinly on the counter.
When things looked about right, Applejack gently set the rolling pin to one side and then went over to the sink. From inside, she fished a bit coin out of a small bowl of soapy water. She rinsed off any lingering soap using water from the faucet, then carried the coin to the very edge of the rolled out dough. She gently pressed it in, and then lowered her head to look at it carefully.
“That’s it, Applejack. Good pie crust is just thick enough that you can’t see the tip of Celestia’s horn on the coin. Trust our princess to make coins that are darn perfect for baking.”
Applejack chuckled, removing the coin from the dough. She looked down at it, just holding it in her hoof a moment before clutching it tightly to her chest. She took a single breath, then shook her shoulders and gently flipped the coin back over to the sink. The bit landed with a small splash into the bowl of soapy water from whence it came. “Of course, Granny.”
The kitchen timer rang, and Applejack quickly turned her head over to the oven. With practiced efficiency, she bit down on the oven mitt that hung from the stove’s handle. She then used that heat-protected grip to open the oven and carefully remove a cookie sheet. On the cookie sheet were the first two of the intended four zap apple jam pies. She quickly transferred the cookie sheet to the top of the stove’s burners, and then closed the door.
The oven would heat back up, regaining what was lost when she opened the door, while she was finishing the last two pies.
“Can never have too many pie tins, especially with a family as big as ours. We'll be using all of them today.”
“Yes, Granny,” Applejack said as she opened a cupboard, fishing out the last two pie tins in the whole house. One was a gift from Filthy Rich. It had the Barnyard Bargains logo on the underside of the tin, but despite the branding, it was one of the best darn pie tins the family had. They usually only brought it out for special occasions or if they were baking a pie for Filthy Rich. In this case, she was calling it into service for a very special occasion.
The other pie tin was one that Applejack herself cherished, less for its baking prowess and more for the memory tied to it. It was the pie tin she had gotten at the Rainbow Falls Trade Exchange, the one Rarity had given to her after their little spat. The pie tin was a little bent and bruised, but still made great pies. It reminded Applejack of her friendship with Rarity in so many ways.
Applejack set the two pie tins out and began cutting circles out of the pie dough. She got through the first two circles, forming a perfect pair of bottom crusts, which she laid out in the pie tins. Next came the filling, poured and spread into the waiting crust with care. After that, she smushed the remaining dough back together and rolled it out again. She fetched the coin, checked the thickness one final time, and then cut out the last two circles. Finally, Applejack lovingly placed the top crusts over the filling, as if dressing a fancy table with a fancy tablecloth. There wasn't a wrinkle or imperfection to be seen.
“Remember, Applejack, be sure to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of that crust and to crimp the edges the way I showed ya. Nothing ruins a pie or an oven faster than if you get filling bubbling out.”
Applejack’s hooves were already moving with an experienced precision as she pressed and folded the edges of the crusts together. “Yes, Granny," she said as she finished crimping the edges. With the filling sealed inside the two pies, she applied a gentle dusting of cinnamon to the top of each.
“And don’t forget the venting holes either. And no, you can’t just put those three little holes in the middle like you see on the pies in town. Our apples are too darn juicy for that. You make that ring of venting holes like I showed ya.”
“Yes, Granny,” Applejack recited again, gently coughing once more into her shoulder. She held the position for a moment, just pressing her nose into her shoulder as she took a moment to steady herself. Then, she went right back to work. She picked up the knife she had been using for all the other pies and placed a dozen air vents in a neat circle, each vent hole about halfway between the center and the crimped edges of the pie.
Applejack then set the knife down and stepped back to admire her work. The last two zap apple jam pies were darn near perfect.
“Good job, but don’t go gawking at them right now. Get them pies in the oven and start on that whipped cream!”
Applejack got choked up a little again but nodded her head. “Yes, Granny.” She placed the two pies on a fresh cookie sheet, slipped them into the oven, and set the timer. Then it was straight over to the refrigerator, where she pulled out a bowl of whipping cream that had already been prepared.
She got out an old egg beater, holding the handle with her mouth as she placed her forehooves on the pedals. It took some effort to balance on her back hooves, but the egg beater made the best whipped cream. Today, only the best would do.
“AJ?”
Applejack flinched, stumbling forward and almost face planting into the bowl of unwhipped cream. She just barely managed to catch herself. Letting the egg beater drop into the bowl, she looked at the window. She had to stare a moment, her mind catching up with reality, before she managed to speak. “Rainbow, what y’all doing here?”
“You asked me to come get you when it was time to pick up Apple Bloom from the train station.”
“Shoot, is it that late already?” Applejack looked at the clock, cursed under her breath, then looked back at Rainbow. “Good thing I got those pies in. Come around to the door, I’ll be just a minute.”
Rainbow nodded, disappearing from the window as Applejack quickly scooped up the bowl of whipped cream. She placed it, the egg beater still resting inside, into the fridge. It would keep long enough for her to get to the train station and get back, and the pies would still be baking.
She surveyed the kitchen after closing the refrigerator door. Nothing else needed to be put away. There would be cleaning to do later, but it could wait. Applejack went to the sink, just to quickly wash her hooves before drying them on a cotton sackcloth rag that hung nearby. She then trotted to the door. Her hat and her red ribbon were hanging from a hook on the wall. Applejack picked up the hat and gently placed it on her head, but did not reach for the red ribbon. Instead, her hoof reached for another ribbon that was resting on the edge of a nearby counter. With a few twists of her hoof, she had tied the black ribbon into her hair.
A final steadying breath, she opened the door. Rainbow was waiting patiently, actually managing to remain still as she stood on the welcome mat. She had been looking off into the orchards when Applejack opened the door. When she turned her head to look at her friend, she gently smiled. She had her mane done up so it wasn't hanging everywhere and the colors gently covered with a black veil. There was also a black bracelet around the ankle of her left foreleg.
The pair hugged on the doorstep. “Hey, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt you,” Rainbow said.
“No, that’s why I wanted you to come. I knew I’d lose track of time.” Applejack patted Rainbow’s back before the pair separated. “We better get going. I want to be there when Apple Bloom gets in. After rushing back from that cutie mark mission thing she and her friends were doing, she deserves to have her big sister and big brother waiting at the station. We'll have to grab Big Mac on the way too.”
Rainbow nodded and stepped off the welcome mat. Applejack followed, walking out of the kitchen. Once she was clear of the door, she turned around. She opened her mouth to say goodbye to Granny, but looking back, all she saw was an empty kitchen. The words caught in her throat, and she just lingered, her hoof on the handle of the kitchen door as she just stared.
“Applejack, you okay?” Rainbow asked, noticing her friend had stopped dead in her tracks.
“Ye… yeah, just… just thinking, is all. Come on, let’s get going. Got to get Apple Bloom, get back here, and then take everything into town for the... I mean, there are going to be a lot of ponies. Granny would want us to make sure that everyone gets something good to eat. Even at her own... “ She closed the door, the last word refusing to leave her lips. A word that tasted foul in her throat, and yet, she couldn’t spit it out.
Rainbow moved in slowly, gently extending a hoof, and Applejack fell into a hug. The pair stood there a moment, Applejack shivering a little, her breathing ragged. The tears wanted to come, but… she couldn’t greet Apple Bloom with teary eyes at the train station. Just a little longer, just a little longer and then… then she, they all, could cry later. Still, Rainbow’s friendly, supportive hug was giving Applejack the strength to steady herself.
“Thanks, Sugarcube,” Applejack said once they finally began to separate.
Rainbow patted Applejack’s shoulder once before turning so they could begin walking to town. “No problem.”
Applejack fell in line behind Rainbow, but before they had even gotten a dozen steps away, Applejack looked back one last time. Her hooves kept carrying her forward, but her eyes looked to the pies she could see cooling through the kitchen window. In her mind, another memory began to play. This time it began with a much younger version of her own voice.
“Granny, what are you doing?”
“Why, I’m making apple pie for dinner tonight.”
“Can I help?”
In Applejack’s mind, she could clearly remember Granny’s happy, warm smile. “Course, sweetie, but you better be ready to do everything I say. The Apple Family has a tradition of making the best apple-tastic treats, so it will take a lot of learning to get everything right. You sure you’re ready?”
Applejack stopped as she continued to stare through the kitchen window, feeling a tear roll down her face. She smiled, nodded, and then turned to catch up with Rainbow. “Yes, Granny,” Applejack said with a small crack in her voice, “and thank you.”
In memory of my own grandmother,
who passed away in March of 2017 at the age of 88.
She was a strong woman who lived independently to the very end,
and I will cherish the family recipes I learned from her forever.
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Damn, I figured where it was going half way through but it's still hit me right in the feels. My own Grandma won't be around much longer, and I'm sad a out that, so that might be why this hit me that hard (though she still has some fight in her). Great writing.
I picked up on what was happening almost immediately, but it still got me choked up. Great fic, and I'm sorry for your grandma.
Thought it was something like this from the description, but didn't let that stop me from reading anyways. All I can really say is; good job, well done, pow! right in the feels, and sad AJ is sad.
Thanks for the story.
This was a nice and thoughtful read for a Sunday evening, thank you for that. Halfway through, I got the impression the story will go either this way or conclude with some celebration, Apple Bloom's wedding for example. Still, I enjoyed all the detailed descriptions - I felt almost as if standing next to the farmer mare. Also, this is the first time I have actually learned how are those American apple pies made - we have completely different kinds of apple treats here.
When I read the description in my feed, I just kept saying "Don't be a sad story, don't be a sad story..." Then clicked the link. And saw the sad tag. Nooooooo
Appletastic story!
Perfectly done, made me cry
My condolences on your grandmother, I just lost two grandfathers in the past year, and a close family friend who was like a grandmother to all of us.
My condolences on your loss, although a beautiful peice of writing was forged from the fading embers.
I'm not crying... there's just something in my eyes!
What's in my eyes?
...tears...
I didn't read it yet so I gonna ask, is this a small sequel to Past Sins? cause that is the only Mlp fan fiction that is not a crossover I read because the Slice of Life substance make it so real which make the story itself so GodDamn Beautiful
My grandfather is not in the best health as of late. I don't know how long we may yet have him with us. He has made some improvements lately but still, it was some great luck.
This is a rather beautiful story honestly. Touches on the heartstrings just the right way.
That was incredibly emotional for me to read.
Thank you, Pen.
I don't like it.... I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! I never seen such moments in a kitchen before.
Blows nuzzle and cries... Such a beautiful story... I need more tissues... I wish this gets to EQD
... stupid seasonal allergies...
My condolences. I fear I'll be going through something similar in the very near future, and it's not a pleasant thing to consider.
Yeah, something about the cover art tipped me off. Maybe it's how, while Granny Smith is her coat color, Applejack and the oven and pie are in black silhouettes. it made them seem more like they were actually there, while Granny was not.
Good pun in the title, too.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have imaginary Apples to air-hug.
I hope your heart will heal in time.
You want to make the Manliest brony cry? because thats what you're gonna get!
I went into this thinking it was something about her parents. And then bam, right in the feels. This story gets six sads, four cries, two sobs, and a moustache:
This was beautifully done and very touching. I especially liked the way AJ's memories were intertwined with her tasks. It made me remember my father's words when teaching or correcting me while we worked together. He's been gone two years, but I'm still inspired by those words nearly everyday.
Thank you for such an excellent story and for the reminder that our legacy does live on.
And yes, I cried, too. Thanks for that as well!
8085117 Read the story before you make assumptions.
Beautiful and bittersweet. Very well done. Condolences and hugs with extra glitter your way!
8085117
This is not related to Past Sins.
Beautifully-written little story (as I expect from you). I had guessed from about the second paragraph what was going on, but that's fine.
You have my sincerest condolences about your grandmother. My own grandma passed away March 30th, aged 97 (funeral was Friday), so I can understand where you're coming from here.
I figured out what was really going on about halfway through, but the emotions were still real.
My mom and sister and I went to visit my grandma yesterday. We gave Grandma a birthday card to sign for one of her great-grandchildren. Grandma wrote on the card and then said, "I started to write Grandpa." She'd been signing "Grandma and Grandpa" for decades...
...
...
...
i.ytimg.com/vi/7kQukPQDSag/maxresdefault.jpg
That is all.
This was really well written
8085482 oh OK, but I gotta ask will there be another sequel to Past Sins?
Oh God I had no idea, sorry for your loss
Oh damn, this is such a good story. Thanks for this.
Im crying now
so wounderfull.
Sorry for your lose
I'll be visiting my own grandmother today. She... could be doing better. Let's leave it at that.
Suffice to say, this story clearly came from the heart. Thank you for it, and for the message that rang through it. Cherishing the good memories eases us through the bad times. That's how those we loved and still love would want it.
88 seems young to me, but I'm glad you had good memories with your grandmother.
Oh... huh... I think I should check on my mother's and grandmother's grave this weekend. It's about that time.
I know it may not mean much but sorry with what happen to your grandma.
This story reminded me of all the times I had spent with my mom in the kitchen learning to make family recipes, before she died. It has been slightly over two years but reading stories like this bring back all the memories and leave me crying. A very good story, sorry for any typos I have, I blame the tears in my eyes.
It's an old cliché but it's true: Someone is never really dead so long as someone remembers them and the things they were with love.
I just lost my last aunt in March as well. This was good to read, thank you.
This reminded me of my grandmother, who died a year and a half ago, during Christmas. My parents went to see her before she died, I had work. You reminded me that I never got to say goodbye to my grandmother before she passed away.
At least I can understand how you feel.
This story is both a feel-good story, Applejack showing just how much she valued Granny Smith, and just how much she misses her. I promised myself I wouldn't cry, but this was something that hit home a bit harder than expected.
Thank you for the underlying message. I will always cherish the memories of my grandparents.
I figured out the premise pretty much at the start. Between the Sad tag and the cover art, it was a no-brainer, but I'ms sure you weren't trying to surprise us, only make us think.
My condolences on the loss of your grandmother. My own is still alive but she's getting up there in age and can't move around as much as she used to. I know the time is coming but I try not to think about it. This was a moving piece. I did skim through a lot of the dialogue involving the intricacies of baking, but its the words in between that stuck with me. It's about the time spent with Granny Smith.
Well done.
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/448/512/b5a.png
touching story. well written.
*sees title and reads description* Oh no I think I already know where this going ah jeez
*reads story* excellent food porn bro (I don't even like pies that much and it sounded delicious).
*gets to end* oh, right...... I feel guilty for feeling hungry, now.
Amazingly written (AS ALWAYS!!!). I don't really enjoy Applejack stories, but this one was brilliant. I've always wondered if the MLP staff would have the guts to do a death episode, and this would be an amazing episode.
I didn't look at the tags but knew it was sad right from the start. You've done a beautiful job with this piece, none of it displays explicit sadness yet the sense of moroseness carries through. The prose describing the baked goods in the first paragraph was enchanting and that floweriness didn't continue, effectively dulling out the already-mundane actions Applejack carries out. In spite of how plain the actions were, the narrative detailing each task had a very comfortable, intimate feeling the evoked a variety of sensations that culminated in something akin to gratitude for the people in our lives.
What tipped me off was AJ's responses - "with little thought" almost appeared blithe, if it weren't for the clear admiration she still held for the older mare.
For what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss. May her spirit persevere in the recipes you honor her by.
Sorry for your loss.
This hit right home, I lost my grandmother in February.
She got to be 93.
I really should have talked to her more often, while I still had the chance.
Even without knowing the tags, it was quite clear what was going on... but it was still a touching piece of work. Those feels...
My condolences for your loss, I know that feeling too well myself as well. For whatever it's worth, have a (virtual) hug.
Mum's parents passed when I was too little to barely remember them, on Dad side, Grandpa back in 82', Grandma, the last, 12-Apr-87', 30 years ago. I miss her the most, so smart and her mind as clear as a bell til the last. Wish I'd at least learned her banana cake and German coffee cake to remind me of her as I'd never tasted better. But too young then to get in on the cooking yet and she never wrote things like that down alas. Just can't get them the same.
Sorry for your loss, brings back the grief fresh again but also the good memories too. Darn liquid every emotion running down my cheeks. Thank-you for sharing this story.
My condolences as well
I lost my granddad in february as well so really feel with you
Sorry for your loss.
Like others have said, I picked up on what was going on fairly quickly. This is a very nice homage. My condolences to you.
Very emotional for me.