I pulled out the ingredients, most of which I had on hand, and went to work. The crust was short and sweet. I am sure trained pastry chefs have a name for it, but I just called it fancy shortbread: lots of butter, plus flour, spices, and ground up almonds and hazelnuts. You roll half of it into the bottom of a 10 inch tart pan, then add about an inch more up the sides of the pan. Then you spread most of a jar of red currant or red raspberry or apricot preserves on the bottom. So far it had been simple, but as I rolled out the rest of the dough, cut it into strips, and attempted a lattice top, the only real problem I had arose. Unlike regular pie dough, these strips were so tender I had a horrible time getting them off the counter in one piece. They kept breaking on me. Nearly every strip became two or more pieces of a strip pinched together. But after brushing with egg wash, sprinkling with sparkling sugar, and baking, most of the piecing together was well camouflaged and it looked almost pretty.
So, was it any good? Well, yes, it tasted fine. But this was neither Keith's nor my idea of a fruit pie and I suppose that is what we thought we were getting. The "fruit" wasn't juicy enough and despite its shortness, the pastry wasn't flaky enough to suit us. I doubt I will go to the trouble again. Maybe it just comes down to tastes and expectations. These recipes wouldn't keep showing up if someone somewhere didn't like them.
And I find that similar to the denominations. People want certain things and they go where they can get it. The thing that keeps bothering me is why no one seems to think that God has the right to a choice—in fact, He's the only one who has the right since He is the one being worshipped. Or is He? Maybe that's the issue when all is said and done. I want what I want and I don't much care whether He likes it or not, and besides, God wants me to be happy, spiritually fulfilled, and feeling good when I leave so of course He will like what I offer. Really? Try that the next time you give your husband tickets to the opera for his birthday.
Here is the bottom line: if God asked for a Linzertorte I would make him one, despite the fact that I don't much care for them and think my own blueberry pie with a homemade flaky pie crust is much better. Because what He wants should be the only thing that really matters.
You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him (Deut 13:4).
Dene Ward