Grandma's Secret Pie

Every Sunday was a special day for Ilya — he always went to his grandma's for lunch. Her house was filled with a cozy warmth, the aroma of fresh pastries, and something so comforting that could only be felt at grandma's. Ilya loved her pies the most: with apples, cherries, blackcurrants, and sometimes with caramel and nuts. Grandma made them so delicious that each piece melted in his mouth.

One day, Ilya decided he wanted to learn to bake a pie himself. When he shared his idea with his grandma, she laughed and said:

— Well, Ilyusha, let me show you how to bake a real pie! Today we’ll bake it together, and I’ll share all my secrets with you, — she replied, smiling and tying an apron on him.

Ilya put on his apron and, feeling a bit shy, walked over to the table where Grandma had laid out the ingredients: flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and fresh apples. He decided to remember everything Grandma did so that his pie would turn out just as delicious.

— First, — Grandma began, — we need to prepare the dough. Let’s add flour, sugar, and a pinch of salt.

Ilya poured the flour into a bowl, added sugar and a pinch of salt as Grandma instructed. Then she showed him how to pour in the milk and gently mix the dough. He started stirring, and the flour immediately flew all over the kitchen.

— Oh no! Sorry, Grandma! — Ilya said, embarrassed.

— Don’t worry, Ilyusha! It always happens the first time, — Grandma laughed. — The main thing is to enjoy the process.

Ilya nodded and continued mixing the dough, feeling it become soft and smooth in his hands. He was proud of his work, even though his hands were sticky from the dough. While the dough was resting, Grandma suggested they start on the filling.

— Today we’ll make an apple pie, — Grandma said, — so we need to peel and slice the apples.

Ilya took a small knife and carefully peeled the apples, just as Grandma had shown him. He worked meticulously, knowing the filling was the heart of the pie. Once the apples were ready, they added sugar and cinnamon, filling the kitchen with a sweet, warm aroma.

When the dough was ready, Grandma showed him how to roll it out. Ilya carefully rolled it, trying to make the circle as even as possible. He placed the filling on the dough, folded up the edges, and put the pie in the oven. Grandma turned on the heat, and now all they could do was wait.

— Grandma, how do you make such delicious pies? — Ilya asked, looking at her. He was sure she had some special secret.

Grandma looked at her grandson kindly and said:

— Ilyusha, the secret is that I always cook with love and think about the people I'm baking for. When you cook for someone with care, the food becomes truly delicious.

These words stayed with Ilya, and he decided he would always cook that way. Finally, the pie was done, and Grandma took it out of the oven. It looked perfect: golden brown, with the scent of apples and cinnamon filling the kitchen.

When the pie had cooled, Ilya cut the first slice and tasted it. It was truly a masterpiece, and he felt proud of his work. He understood that Grandma’s wisdom about cooking with love was not just words but the true secret to success.

From that day on, Ilya started helping Grandma in the kitchen and even tried baking on his own sometimes. Now he knew that making delicious food meant not only following the recipe but also putting a piece of your heart into it.

Ilya looked happily at his first pie and thought about how nice it was to make something with his own hands for others. Now he could make a little miracle for his family and eagerly looked forward to the next time he and Grandma would bake something together.