Friday, October 16, 2009

Wuthering Heights and pie.

I love old books. Even old paperbacks, and yes I know they can be pretty gross, but something about the brittle, yellowed pages and the unknown stains help set the mood for me, especially with an old classic. I've been collecting them for a while now.

My favorite find is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
This particular copy is from 1943. It includes the original Biographical Notice and Editor's Preface, both written by Currier Bell (Charlotte Bronte), and has wood engravings throughout by Fritz Eichenberg.
I love this cover of Cathy Earnshaw.



Aren't they the coolest? This book is one of my all time favorites. My mother loves it. My grandmother loved it! And my daughter better love it too. It's in her blood!

And since I obviously have a problem with this...
(Seriously I NEED HELP!)
I can't seem to quit canning.
And because there's nothing like pie and a good read, I made this because I like to torture myself.
Here's the recipe for this fantabulous apple pie filling!

5 cups sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
10 cups water
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
Cook until thick and bubbly.
Add 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice.
Pour over sliced apples in 7 quart jars to within one inch of the rim.
Process and seal 25 minutes in a hot water bath.

Books and pie: A lethal combination.

8 comments:

Laura's Reviews said...

That is indeed a lethal combination! I LOVE to bake pies, especially apple. I really need to get into canning. My entire family does it and I once canned pickles and jam as a teen, but got out of it in college.

I also share your love of old books. The greatest danger to me is a used book sale anywhere. I love old books, epecially old classics. I have a house packed full of them! I really like when they have inscriptions. It's cool to see the beautiful old handwriting and to know the book has been enjoyed through a generation.

Once while at an antique store with my mother, I opened up a copy of Pilgrim's Progress and saw the inscription was "Mary Godfrey." She was my Great-Great Aunt! I definitely had to get that one!

I love the pictures in your Wuthering Heights!

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I love your edition of Wuthering Heights. I want to read that book again so badly. I need 3 pairs of eyes so I can read multiple books simultaneously!

Alissa Grosso said...

I can still remember the first time I read Wuthering Heights. It was one of those crackling old paperbacks. I bought it at a church rummage sale.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

That pie looks so yummy. Add a cup of hot fresh coffee, and what could be better??

(As for old books, I'm not a fan at all. Only new books or like new for me).

L said...

Laura - Hey a kindred spirit! You should try canning, especially this time of year. It's so addicting. Apple sauce, apple butter, apple pie filling. Ugh, I'm going crazy.

Love used books sales too! How cool you found that one with a family connection. I found my P&P copy from 1942 in a huge antique store hidden away in the corner on a book shelf. It cost 5 bucks. It took everything I had not to squeal until I got outside with book in hand!

Amanda - Me too, about the reading. I love this copy, and try to read it once a year, on a dark and dreary night under a blanket all by myself (okay the all by myself part is a pipe dream, but oh well).

Alissa - The perfect way to read this book. I hope you kept it! Girl, I sure love rummage sales too. Yes, I have problems.

Diane - Anything warm sounds pretty good right now. You know what else I like to eat apple pie with? A slice of excellent cheese. Weird I know.

Suzette Bradford said...

I'm a new book gal myself. I will take a very cool old book, like your Wuthering Heights, but mostly for decoration. But I prefer the new books, especially the smell of them.

Apple pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. That's from the napkin at Marie Callendar's restaurant when I was a little girl. I must work on my own apple pie filling now. Merci beaucoup for the recipe.

L said...

Ah, Suzette I knows you so well, you sweet smelling book girl! I just like old stuff. Why is that I wonder.

Good luck frenchy!

Unknown said...

Hey, pass some of that pie over this way! I'm too lazy to make it myself.

New book kind of girl here, but I totally get the "old" thing since I have a few myself. There's just something about them. Or maybe I just keep them so my husband doesn't worry that I get rid of oldies...ahem. Just kiddin Honey!

Have a great weekend :)