“Fresh, No Bake Blueberry Pie” In Honor Of The 9-11 Memorial

That Tuesday, (September 11, 2001) started out like any other day…I had on the Today Show and after drinking my tea, I went to take a shower. After my shower, my phone kept ringing, so I answered it and my husband was on the phone…He asked me if I was watching TV and told him that I had it on, but was in the shower. I could hear fear and tension in his voice, so I said to him, “what is wrong?” He told me that if I put on the news I could see what had happened, he said, “at 8:46 am a plane American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.” I had to sit down and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and seeing. Then at 9:03 am –another plane United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the WTC’s South Tower. At that time everyone did not understand what was happening, but realized later that day that these crashes killed everyone on board and hundreds inside the building as well as others outside.

Then another tragic incident happened at  9:37 am –Hijackers aboard Flight 77 crashed another plane into the western side of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killing 59 aboard the plane and 125 military and civilian personnel inside the building. At 9:59 am –The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses. At 10:07 am–After passengers and crew members aboard the hijacked Flight 93 contact friends and family and learn about the attacks in New York and Washington, they mount an attempt to retake the plane. In response, hijackers deliberately crash the plane into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, killing all 40 passengers and crew aboard. Then tragically at 10:28 am –The World Trade Center’s North Tower collapses, 102 minutes after being struck by Flight 11. The rest is history that we will never forget!
    

Today is the 14th Anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day most Americans and the world will never forget. A terrorist attack on America took place that day, and thousands of people lost their lives. Over 2,996 (2,977 victims + 19 hijackers) the entire country as well as the world was impacted by this tragic day’s events. Non-fatal injuries were 6,000 +.  Within hours of the attack, a substantial search and rescue operation was launched. After months of around-the-clock operations, the World Trade Center site was cleared by the end of May 2002.

On the day of the attacks, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stated: "We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, and economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again." The damaged section of the Pentagon was rebuilt and occupied within a year of the attacks. The temporary World Trade Center PATH station opened in late 2003 and construction of the new 7 World Trade Center was completed in 2006. Work on rebuilding the main World Trade Center site was delayed until late 2006 when leaseholder Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed on financing. The construction of One World Trade Center began on April 27, 2006, and reached its full height on May 20, 2013. The spire was installed atop the building at that date, putting 1 WTC's height at 1,776 feet and thus claiming the title of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. #1 WTC finished construction and opened on November 3, 2014.

In the days immediately following the attacks, many memorials and vigils were held around the world, and photographs of the dead and missing were posted around Ground Zero. A witness described being unable to "get away from faces of innocent victims who were killed. Their pictures are everywhere, on phone booths, street lights, walls of subway stations. Everything reminded me of a huge funeral, people quiet and sad, but also very nice. Before, New York gave me a cold feeling; now people were reaching out to help each other.”

On every anniversary, in New York City, the names of the victims who died there are read out against a background of somber music. The President of the United States attends a memorial service at the Pentagon, and asks Americans to observe Patriot Day with a moment of silence. Smaller services are held in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which are usually attended by the President's spouse.

I would like to say that my heart and prayers go out to the families that have lost loved ones in the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Plus, my prayers also go to the First Responders, who have lost their lives due to their bravery. Plus we can’t forget the animals that helped in the recovery. May our country and the world be safe and may “God Bless America!”

If you would like to learn more information about the “911 Memorial and Museum,” just click on this link, “911 Memorial and Museum.”

In honor of all who lost their lives and families, my recipe today is what America is known for….“Pies.” Blueberry pie was first eaten by early American settlers and remains a popular dessert in the United States and Canada. Blueberry pie made with wild Maine blueberries is the official state dessert of the U.S. state of Maine. Blueberry pie has been documented in the Appledore Cook Book in 1872. 

                                            "Fresh, No Bake Blueberry Pie”

Ingredients:
1  9-inch Graham Ready Crust Pie shell 
2 large Bananas
1 jar of Polaner Sugar Free Apricot Preserves
1 to 2 Pints of fresh Blueberries
Home made whipped cream for the top

Directions:
This pie is so delicious and easy; it actually takes about 10 minutes to assemble. Start by cleaning the blueberries, wash and pull off stems and ones that are not good. Put in a bowl and set aside. Now take the Graham Ready Crust Pie shell and take off the cover, as well as pull up the sides of the aluminum a little bit. Take the two bananas and peel, cut into small rounds. Arrange bananas on bottom of Graham cracker crust, in rounds. 

Put the 1 jar of Polaner Sugar Free Apricot Preserves in the bowl with the blueberries, and stir gently not to brake down the berries. After all is mixed together now gently place the blueberries on top of bananas in the pie shell crust. Spread to the ends of the pie crust. Lastly add the home made whipped cream to the top of the pie and cover. (Plastic cover that comes with the crust) Now refrigerate till you are ready to use at least an hour. Serve with a cup of coffee or tea.  

Till Next Time………………………………..................

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