Character Commentary: This is a recipe that I came across a couple of years ago. The apple tart dish is my favorite dish to make for my sister, with a close second being the apricot tarts. It takes time to make, especially the pastry dough. It is a very specific recipe that quickly became my sister’s favorite after I purchased the cookbook in 1858. This recipe is similar to the one my mother used to make us when we were growing up. That’s why I imagine Laura loving this dish so much. It reminds her of our childhood, back when life was easier. There was no real responsibilities or consequences for our actions back then. We had our parents to protect us from the dangers of the real world, but now the world is terrifying and full of awful distractions. I wish we could go back and enjoy the innocence of our childhood just one more time. The closest we can get to that feeling is this apple tart. It is best in the early fall when the apple trees are prime for picking, this is when they have the best flavor. When we were growing up our parents used to take us to go pick apples just outside of town on Saturday mornings. Laura and I would pick and pick until we couldn’t carry them anymore and our father would have to carry all the apples back to the house. Our mother would spend the rest of the day making apple tarts for our friends and families. Oh, how I wish I could go back to those days.
Editorial Commentary: This is an excerpt of Lizzie being reminded of her childhood, by discussing her sister’s favorite apple tart. This recipe came from The Practical American Cookery and Domestic Economy by Elizabeth M. Hall written in 1856. Recipes were different back then because they don’t have exact measurements or times for how long anything needs to cook. I find these recipes more like guidelines than an actual recipe because of the detailed instructions they lack. I think this apple tart stood out to Lizzie in particular because it clearly brought back some old memories from her childhood. She compares this with the realization of how much her life has changed. How she has responsibilities now and probably a reputation to maintain. I imagine she is traumatized with what her sister went through in regards to the goblin men and this makes it even harder to come to the realization of how she has had to grow up to deal with real-world problems. Her parents aren’t here anymore to guild her and Laura and keep them away from danger. I think it is interesting because at this point in time Lizzie and Laura are both unmarried and therefore have to take care of one another. I sure this puts even more stress on the sisters because they are looking for husbands, as most their age would do, and have to deal with the consequences of their actions. This tart I think reminds them of their childhood and brings them to a positive place mentally. With all the stress and social pressure placed on them, I think they make this tart as possibly a distraction from the real world.
Citation:
Practical American Cookery and Domestic Economy. Nabu Press, 1856.