The Pie Treatment
Courtesy of the Florida Memory Project
As a graduate student I did archival research at the National Archives in Guatemala (AGCA), Guatemala City back in 1997. A couple of the AGCA archivist could be difficult to work with. One night while in baking pies in kitchen, baking and cooking are a form of relaxing for me, I listened to a sermon on cassette (yes I am dating myself) about giving the gift of kindness to difficult people. The message inspired me to bake the archivist a pie because as I observed, they seemed like they received insufficient compensation and appreciation for their work. I wish I had a photo of their delighted shock when I presented the pie. They all beamed with gratitude and began to interact with me with a smile. In addition, they wait time for the records I requested decreased. The balance of my research time at the AGCA improved in so many ways.. The next time you run into difficult people try giving them the pie treatment.
Lemon Pie Recipe
Ingredients
3 eggs
¾ cup sugar
1 lemon
Coked pastry shells
Instructions
Cook slowly in a double boiler until thick, three egg yolks, one-half a cup of sugar, and the juice and grated rind of one lemon; when done, this mixture will look like scrambled eggs. Set it aside to cool. Beat the egg whites stiff; into this. Pour this mixture into cooked pastry shells and place in the oven until the top is brown. This same mixture can be used as a cake filling, or as a dessert by itself, by chilling in sherbet glasses.
Elizabeth D. K. Dooley, Puerto Rican Cook Book (Book, 1948)
