“I can’t believe you just did that!” This phrase and a couple more were usually said to me at Homecomings or family get-togethers. So, what did I do that was so terrible?
First, let me explain a little something about my childhood. I literally grew up around desserts. At my grandparents’ house they were a staple. Well, except for breakfast. Other than that, there were always delicious goodies sitting on the table or on the kitchen counter. I especially loved the gooey chocolate brownies. No surprise there. In the summer Mamaw Myrtle/Girdle baked peach, blackberry, or strawberry cobblers from scratch. I still think of them from time to time. Mamaw Jo was really gifted at making pies. Her favorite one was egg. I haven’t seen one of those since she quite cooking. Except for the egg one, I loved them too as long as they weren’t the pretty pies. That’s what she called the ones topped with meringue.
Just in case you’re not familiar with it, meringue is the white gooey stuff that sits on top of a pie. Basically, it’s made of sugar and whipped egg whites. Some people may add lemon juice or salt. You can also use a binding agent like gelatin or flour. I think Mamaw Jo just used the egg whites and sugar. After she dolloped it on the top of a pie, she would place it in the oven on broil just long enough for the meringue to turn a light shade of brown on top. On cooking shows, I’ve watched bakers use small hand-held blow torches to sear the meringue. Once she pulled one with it out of the oven, she would boast: “I swannie, that’s a pretty pie if I do say to myself.” Let me tell you, when she would sit her pies out, people would run over each other the make sure they got a piece before the pies was all gone. I even saw this at Homecomings.
Now, back to what I did that was so awful. You see, I dared to scrape the meringue off of a piece of pretty pie. This is when I would hear comments from the people around me. “You’re scraping off the best part.” It may have been that to them, but it wasn’t to me. It was and still is a matter of texture rather than taste. To me, meringue is disgustingly icky and I want nothing to do with it
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” Matthew 18:9 (KJV)
If there is something keeping you from Christ, then get rid of it. There is nothing that is more important than not only having accepting Jesus and spending eternity with Him. If there is, do as I had done with the icky meringue, just scrape it off and move forward.
Many have asked me if I will eat whipped cream or marshmallows. Not really. But I do love Rice Crispy treats. That is as long somebody doesn’t place meringue on it.

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.