I RECOGNIZE THIS TITLE sounds like fake news, like something you shouldn’t read, but nothing could be further from the truth.
A few weeks following the memorial service of Sharon Russell, a beloved member of the College View Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, her Sabbath School class held a fundraiser. “Something Else” Sabbath School organizes an annual event at which members auction their finest baked goods and tasty treats to the highest bidder. The money raised helps sponsor charity projects, which have included providing school lunches for refugee children, Christmas gifts for needy families, money to help a couple rebuild after
a fire, and tuition assistance for struggling college students.
As a longtime member of this class with her husband, Malcolm, Sharon had a well-established reputation for her culinary expertise. Though she was famous for taking shortcuts and tweaking recipes by reducing the oil, butter, and sugar, Sharon’s pies were second to none, baked in exquisite Cedar Creek Pottery from Beatrice, Nebraska.
Among the array of pastries at the auction was a pie labeled “Blueberry Pie, Sharon Russell’s Recipe, Baked by Jan Lemon.”
Sharon’s absence was still palpable among her circle of friends. And on this night, as bidding wars began over pie in the church fellowship hall, Malcolm was visiting friends in California. Unbeknownst to him, with extensive hooting and hysterical laughter, members Ron Biloff and Marlyn Schwartz bid each other up for their late friend Sharon’s pie.
The auction was a success, raising more than $3,500. The Schwartzes brought home a $600 pie, tucked it in their freezer, and waited for Malcolm’s return to Lincoln.
THE REVEAL
The surprise pie reveal was planned at The Oven, Malcolm’s favorite Indian restaurant. Marlyn arranged for it to be hidden in the The Oven’s kitchen until it was time for dessert. As the meal progressed, the story was told, the pie was served, and a small group of friends shared sweet blueberry filling wrapped in flaky crust in disbelief (at the price), reverence (what did each bite cost again?), and warm memories of their absent friend.
None of this would have transpired without friend Jan Lemon, who had made a meaningful effort to recreate Sharon’s pie. “I’ve become quite fond of Sharon’s recipe,” she reflected.
THE SECRET RECIPE OF SHARON’S
$600 PIE
1. Power walk, Sharon speed, to the freezer section of your favorite grocery store and look for “The Village PieMaker” pies (Sharon’s choice).
2. Bring unbaked pie to your kitchen and, while still frozen, pop it out of its disposable pan and place it in your favorite pie plate.
3. Bake and serve warm, or at room temperature, with ice cream.
It took Jan Lemon’s oven 90 minutes to bake the $600 pie.
Sharon brazenly took shortcuts—with good reason. Her mantra was repeated at every bountiful meal around the Russells’ table: “I don’t like to cook. There are more important things in life than spending my time in the kitchen.”
Preparing Sabbath meals for diverse groups on a regular basis meant that Sharon had to think practically and work fast. Though her time-saving methods were admirable, her greatest gifts were her genuine joy and acceptance, which made each person feel intensely welcome in her presence.
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NIV). In Sharon’s case, these blessings were selflessly extended to the recipients of her hospitality.
As dinner concluded with a slice of deliciousness, Sharon took great pleasure in announcing her full disclosure; the home-baked pie was storebought. And her culinary legacy lives on.
