Time Use and Cooking at Home Increasing: My Apple Pie Competition!

Don't judge the lattice!

 As a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, somewhat health-conscious, and with a touch of self-sufficiency, I enjoy the process of cooking meals from scratch. When I was young, I grew up in a house on land that used to be my grand parent's farm. Many of the people we knew in Bark River, Michigan, made a lot of things themselves. They were part of an older generation still connected to the days when you couldn’t just run down to a large department store. Hopefully, those skills won’t be lost on the next generation, who may only know a world full of technology (Yikes if we ever unplug!).

Sorry—I digress into philosophical pontification. Onto pies!

Cooking at home genuinely improves overall health. As a certified fitness trainer and part-time volunteer firefighter, I try to stay as healthy as possible. Since I also enjoy cooking, it makes sense to prepare many of my own meals. Increasing research suggests that overly processed foods—common in many households—may contribute to health issues like cancer and diabetes. Of course, that’s just a general statement; you should always consult an expert for personalized advice. From my perspective, cooking and eating at home helps you control what goes into your food and tailor it to your taste.

The other day, my friend and I got into a lighthearted debate about who’s the better cook. My neighbor had given me boxes of apples—many of them blemished—so I sorted through them, keeping the best for eating and setting the rest aside for cooking. Most were ideal for baking.

An illustration of a guy
making pie in a cabin.

I gave my friend some apple butter (canning project), which she really liked and said was very well made. Naturally, that sparked our debate. She claimed to be the better cook, and I, of course, said I was. Honestly, she’s probably right—but if I admit that too quickly, where’s the fun in a little friendly competition? She gave me a slice of her pie, which was phenomenal, so I had to make one of my own to stay in the game.

My strategy was to make everything completely from scratch and add my own twist. I followed a similar recipe to the one I’ve shared below (there are many others on the Internet), but I sliced the apples extra small to change the texture and added a bit of maple syrup for a richer, deeper flavor. Next time I will keep my apples sliced in normal size. My crust definately turned out better with a little maple syrup but overall her pie was better. Now I have a competitive leg up on crust!

Easy Apple Pie Recipe

Tip: Eating too many pies likely won't help you achieve your fitness goals! Need a trainer? Send me a message to the right. A hobby. 

Interestingly, I also came across a study showing that more people—especially men—are cooking at home these days. That’s a good trend to see and one worth celebrating.

Trends in Home Cooking among United States Adults from 2003 to 2023: Analysis of American Time Use Survey Food Preparation