I Knew I Was Late and I Knew I Was in Trouble.

You've heard the saying "better later than never."  Well, my dad has his own - "if you're not going to be on time, you might as well not go."  I think I live somewhere in between.  Although after many years of "if you're not going to be on time..."  I tend to be early.

My dad was rather strict.  I had a curfew that as a teenager I thought was too early.  I don't know what time it was but it was of course too early.  Occasionally, I was late.  It was rare because I always got grounded when I was late, even if by my watch I was on time.  One time I came in late.  I knew I was late and knew I was in trouble.  I walked straight through the living room, past my dad and to my room.  After I got down there, I realized I needed to take my contacts out.  I decided I would just sleep in them.  It was better to do that than face my dad.

One time I was late and had no control over it.  At 16 I was allowed to date.  I had a boyfriend already but we didn't go on dates other than football & basket ball games, and church events.  So I was excited to go on real dates.  I can't remember my first real date, but I know I had fun dating.  One evening, my boyfriend and I went out to a friend's house.  She lived out in the country and a bunch of us were getting together out there.  I don't recall what we did out there.  I think movies and just hanging out.  Time came for us to leave because I had a ridiculously early curfew.  My boyfriend had a pickup that could be considered antique.  It was pretty cool looking.  I think it was a '58 GMC.  I'm not positive on the year.  But it didn't always run the way we wanted it to.  Occasionally, we had to cancel dates because it wouldn't start.  Well this particular night, it wouldn't start for us to leave our friends house.  He tried several times, and finally I called my mom.  She was going to come out and get me.  I didn't think that was a good idea.  It was dark and I didn't know how we got out there.  I promised her I wasn't lying and that really the truck wouldn't start.  I don't know much about engines but I think sticking a hose in there isn't a great thing to do.  But with this truck that's what got it running.  After about a half hour, the truck was running again. And we were headed home.  I think I was about an hour late, but because of the phone call I didn't get into too much trouble.  I'm not sure that my parents truly believed me about the pickup not starting, but they let me slide.  Thankfully, because I really was telling the truth.

Now that I'm an adult, I don't have a curfew anymore so I can't get into trouble for being late getting home.  But we often are running behind to get where we need to.  Occasionally, I'm running behind and need to take a dessert with me.  I have found a dessert that doesn't take too long to make and can bake while I'm getting ready.

Fresh Berry Crumb Pie
Crumb Crust/Topping
1 cup almonds
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Filling
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tbsp constarch
2 pints fresh berries (such as raspberries, blackberries and/or strawberries)

Preheat oven to 350.  Spread almonds on a baking pan and place in oven.  Roast almonds about 10 minutes or until roasted.  Remove nuts from the oven and put into a food processor. Increase the oven temperature to 450. Chop the nuts in processor for about 10 seconds.  In a large mixing bowl, mix chopped nuts, flour and sugar.  Cut butter into the mixture with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form.  Press half the crumb crust into the bottom and sides of  a deep dish pie plate.  In a medium mixing bowl, mix together sugar, berries & cornstarch.  Mix gently until cornstarch and sugar are mixed in.  Pour berry mixture into the pie plate.  Pour the rest of the crumb crust evenly over the top.  Bake until the top is golden brown and filling is bubbly about 30 minutes.  Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.  Best served warm.

I like to eat the leftovers for breakfast.