Ruth Smith’s Sweet Treats

Ruth Smith, Wesley Smith’s mom, enjoys baking sweet treats for Cora Dale House and others. She began baking as a teenager, as they did not have a lot of sweets at home. She was one of six children, and when they wanted sweets they would bake cookies, because they were the easiest to make. She made her first pie after getting married. She received compliments and felt affirmed knowing people liked them and felt like, “Yes! Maybe I can do this!” Now she says she doesn’t need a lot of sweets but she loves to share. Her daughter calls Ruth’s baking her love language. Her mother taught her to bake and they shared chores, which was a fun job since she would get a sweet out of it. Some of Ruth’s favorite recipes include Peanut Butter Pie, Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie. She also enjoys making chocolate chip cookies and frosted pumpkin bars. When it comes to other types of cooking she doesn’t enjoy them as much as baking, but people like her lasagna. It doesn’t have the same feel as baking, but it’s still necessary. Ruth’s favorite part of baking is giving the baked goods away. The process is messy with a lot of clean up, and that part isn’t fun, but the smiles her baking brings makes it worth it. She uses family recipes and those from books as well, although her pie crust recipe differs from her mom’s. She likes some recipes from the Betty Crocker famous cookbooks. If you would like to take up baking Ruth says to double check your ingredients! Table spoons vs tea spoons are common mistakes. Be slow and don’t rush it. The quicker you go the more likely you are to make mistakes. Don’t use the time on recipes, you need to check it based on your oven! We would like to thank Ruth for sharing her gift and love of baking with us here at Cora Dale House.

- Parker Jack