In all honesty, I’m not much of a baker… but I sure can cook up some delicious food. So when I heard about the Women’s Division of the Monahans Chamber of Commerce raising money to help feed local children, I knew I wanted to contribute something special.
I chose to make a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Streusel Pie — loaded with cozy flavor and topped with a few extra goodies: slivered almonds, extra crumble (because let’s face it, crumble makes everything better), and chopped walnuts, all packed in cute little clear containers with a mini spoon on top.
Truthfully? I baked two pies — one for the auction and one for the house. And I’m glad I did, because I tore into the “home pie” trying to figure out if it was done. Spoiler alert: I may have destroyed it with a spoon in a minor panic.
And shoutout to my husband — because apparently just mixing the filling with a fork sent my heart rate flying (POTS life ). I would have used a mixer, but I still haven’t returned the one I borrowed from my friend Linda (sorry, Linda... I owe you a new one — and I think the twins may have made off with the paddles).
I was up past 11 p.m., watching the oven like a hawk and praying it’d bake evenly. It wasn’t just about the pie — it was about what it stood for.
No child should go hungry.
And as someone who’s lived through tight times — working three jobs to support my oldest three kids — I understand what it’s like to juggle bills, food, and the hope that things will get better. I was lucky to have my grandma and mom by my side… not everyone has that kind of support.
So yes, I’ll stay up late and lose sleep to bake a pie if it means putting food on someone else’s table. I always have — in every community I’ve lived in — and I always will. Because it’s not just about the pie. It’s about showing up.
And if I can help someone build a better foundation, one slice at a time — then I’ll keep baking, keep helping, and keep loving this wild little town I call home.