Years ago, after completing college and moving back in with my parents for a spell, I would pick my Grandma up once a week and take her out shopping. She was close to 90 and could no longer drive, but was always eager to get out of the house and buy her own groceries and necessities. One of her favorite haunts was a neighborhood department store that she insisted on stopping by, and she would push her cart around the aisles aimlessly, happy to be out and about. This particular store didn’t have much for me to look at, but I would always wander over to the kitchen section and browse around until Grandma was ready to leave. I remember falling in love with one particular item: a glass cake stand with a heavy domed lid. Every week I would go back and debate purchasing it, but I had just graduated college without much in my bank account. So each time I would pass it by, dreaming of the cakes I could make to fill it.
That August I celebrated my 25th birthday, and there it was wrapped up so pretty: the cake stand I had been coveting. My parents gave it to me that birthday, but I’m pretty sure they were tipped off by my Grandma, who couldn’t help but notice me eying it each week. Almost twelve years later I still own the glass domed top to the stand, but the bottom chipped after I dropped it one sad evening. Over the years I’ve collected a few more stands, and use them frequently. But not just for cakes: for muffins and scones and cookies and fruit, also. I love having one perched on my counter; an interactive display of sugary goodness to brighten the day.
Last week the folks at Martha Stewart asked if they could send me a cake stand (pictured in the post here) from the Martha Stewart Collection (exclusively at Macy’s) and I could hardly say no. That very first cake stand was a Martha Stewart stand, and I had loved it dearly for years. I’m looking forward to all the birthdays, anniversaries, and get-togethers this new piece will be a part of.
(and, although I was given the stand, all my opinions here are my own).
Peach Crumble Pie
This pie is a recipe from the Martha Stewart webpage, and since I only made a few small tweaks, I will send you there for the recipe. I only made three small changes – I added a teaspoon of cinnamon to the streusel topping, and a good squeeze of lemon juice (about a teaspoon) and a good pinch of salt to the peach filling. It was delicious.
36 Comments
Jessica Robinson
Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 8:21 pmSarah this is beautiful! Love with the images. I can almost taste this!
Coach's Oats
Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 11:34 amBeautiful! We will have to try this recipe sometime. Thank you for sharing your lovely talents :]
Victoria
Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 11:02 amMmmm, this looks delicious! I can only have crumble with custard though… lots of custard
Rachel Walker
Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 11:42 amIt’s funny how something as simple as a crumble topping can have so many variations, but this looks delicious and dark and textured…just like how my mum used to make!
Samantha
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 6:26 amOh wow, this pie looks incredible! I desperately want to try this! Will be a great dessert this coming winter too!
Paula
Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 2:42 amThanks for sharing! The photos are really amazing and mouth-watering. I’m glad that the cake requires fresh peaches instead of canned ones – personally I’m not very fond of them… and when I use fresh peaches, I always peel them using this method: http://www.listonic.com/protips/get/ijkdgvctxl. In short, to easily get rid of peach skin, put it in boiling water for a while and then give it an ice bath.
Erika Surmi
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 2:47 pmThat pie though! This is next on my list. I just made a peach and blackberry galette with sun-drizzled California peaches! MMmmmmm http://www.therootblog.com
Lissa
Monday, September 1, 2014 at 10:35 pmThis looks amazing. Your story reminded me of my grandmother and how she used to wander the aisles of her favorite stores. Your writing is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
merry jennifer
Saturday, August 30, 2014 at 1:36 pmSuch a lovely post, Sarah. And that pie. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us.
ATasteOfMadness
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 12:44 pmThis pie is gorgeous!!
Laura
Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 9:16 amMy eyes misted up when you were talking about going to the department store with your grandma and just her general happiness for getting out, with or without a particular purpose. Just love. And peach pie is my all time favourite dessert. That recipe looks so, so legit. xo
Jennifer Farley
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 3:19 pmI’ve never met a peach pie I didn’t love. Martha’s sounds excellent.
kristie
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 9:54 pmYou make the most beautiful desserts. I love the look of this pie, and I can’t wait to try it myself!
Greg
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 3:12 pmThe story was wonderful to read and reminded me of my own special times I have with my grandparents. The pie looks delicious and the cake stand looks wonderful with that touch of color from the peaches!
Can’t wait to try it out my self
Kitchen Monster
Have you ever tried swedish pancakes for dessert? If not check out this recepie below.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 2:24 pmThat pie looks delicious! 🙂
Kasey
Monday, August 25, 2014 at 11:07 pmWhat a sweet story (your grandma was paying attention!) Those are some beautiful peaches, I might add. x
PassTheKnife
Monday, August 25, 2014 at 1:27 pmWhat a sweet story. I’m sure your grandmother cherished those moments together. Also, what an amazing pie recipe.. the streusel topping pies are my favorite!
thermomix recipe
Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 1:47 pmi use a little bit of speculoos and the peach crumble pie is better 😉
Thanks for your fabulous pictures.
Dani
Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 2:30 amWhat a pretty cake stand and an even more delicious looking pie! I bought my first cake dome 2 years ago to house my very first Christmas cake so it could sit on the kitchen bench looking and smelling like christmas all December. Love them!
Raphaelita
Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 11:48 pmBeautiful photos and an awesome pie recipe! Aloha ????
Ordinary Blogger
Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 9:55 pmToo funny! I have a ‘thing’ for cake stands too. This one is lovely, and the peach pie looks delightful. Thanks for sharing!
Riley
Saturday, August 23, 2014 at 10:05 amAw man, tell Martha to send me a pretty cake stand!
Nicole B.
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 10:44 pmWhat a sweet story – thanks for sharing. One of the first things that I received for our kitchen was a cake stand. I love it and the idea of using it for other things than just cake.
Tieghan
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 9:46 pmI loved this post and your sweet story. It is always fun to have special pieces that remind of happy memories and people we love. Also, I am a huge fan of Martha Stewart anything, so I clearly love the bottom stand too!!
And this crumble!! YUM! Love the photos too!
Alanna
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:01 pmThat pie looks like it descended from heaven.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 6:45 pmThis DEFINITELY looks delicious!! Omg. Loving that topping!
shanna mallon
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:36 amoh geeze the story about going to the store with you grandma made my eyes well up with tears. I love that memory you have and especially that you still have the dome. and this new Martha base is beautiful!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:03 amWow, what a beautiful story about the domed cake stand, totally had tears in my eyes! Peach crumble pie is a faaave of mine, definitely love the looks of your version!
Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 9:02 amI saw your Steller story yesterday and was like ‘I need that pie in my life!’. So yeah, I’m pretty excited about this pie.
Have a lovely weekend, Sarah! xoxo
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:58 amWhat a lovely story and even lovelier photos! Now I’m tempted to get a stand with a dome to display in my kitchen : )
mimi
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:44 amA lovely post. And an even lovelier crumble!
Kathryn
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:16 amI loved reading this post Sarah, it gave me all the warm and fuzzies 😉 And a beautiful pie to go with it!
Mallory @forkvsspoon
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 7:55 amThe memory of your grandma is priceless … A good classic cake stand is a must and makes a kitchen complete, especially when filled with cakes and scones! The pie is lovely and aren’t the peaches just great right now?!?
Maryna
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 7:00 amSuch a nice story! I am going to buy my first cake stand. Just saving some money for it. I could have asked my parents, but I wanna get it on my own . Then it will be two times more precious.))
Isabelle
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 4:15 amLovely post. Aren’t they nice memories: out shopping with your elderly Grandmother. And the pie looks absolutely delicious.