When I was 14 years old, I did something I had never done before. I outright lied to my parents. (Don’t tell my students; I’ve convinced them that I was above reproach as a middle schooler.)
I would say that I don’t know what possessed me, but I do: there was this bold, irreverent high school boy (with long hair, swoon!) who wanted to meet me.
Mike and I had been talking online for weeks. I’d accidentally contacted him while trying to instant message his sister, who was my classmate and friend, and after awhile I was smitten. We’d tried to arrange a meeting, but my parents had understandably forbidden it because of his age. One weekend, though, Mike had a movie date with another girl and I had a parent-sanctioned very public “date” with another boy my age. We were both really only interested in meeting each other, though, and saw this as an opportunity: I fudged the time of my date and asked my parents to drop me off at the mall hours before I was actually supposed to be there. I wore my cutest black pants and white button-down shirt and told Mike to meet me by the fountain.
To be clear, I was the goody-two-shoesiest kid you could imagine. Lying to my parents was not a thing I did, much less lying to my parents to meet a boy. I don’t know how I kept it together. My face burned the whole time I stood by the fountain. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I thought I might die. Through waves of intense teenage angst, agonizing pangs of conscience, and tremendous excitement, I turned around to finally meet Mike.
He was just so cool, y’all. He was wearing a South Carolina Gamecocks baseball cap that just said COCKS in gigantic letters, a choice I found hilarious and characteristically bold. His long hair (!) was pulled back in a ponytail. He wrapped me in a hug first thing. I died. The end.
Well, that’s what it felt like, anyway. In reality, I awkwardly broke the hug and we started walking around the mall. I’m sure I was laughing nervously every 5 seconds. I’d never been on a real date-date before — like, with someone I really liked! An older boy! With long hair! Ahhh! — and I had no clue what to actually do. Questions raced through my mind: Should we walk through stores? Is that boring? Should we eat? But who pays? Does he expect me to kiss him? Will he try and kiss me? Is that a thing people do? Hyperventilate, rinse, repeat.
I walked in a happy/anxious daze through the wide mall corridors, talking about who knows what. Mike was so much more comfortable than I was. He held my hand without a second thought. He decided he wanted Chinese food, but I felt too shy to let him buy me anything other than a Coke. He took about 4 straws and drank his water through all of them at once without saying a word about it. Who does that?! He was so cool. Ahhh.
Finally, way too soon, it was almost time for my legitimate “date” to arrive. Mike saw that I was disappointed and asked me if I wanted to continue hanging out, but I knew it’d be wrong to ditch the other guy. We reluctantly said our goodbyes. I could tell he wanted to kiss me, but I told him I was way too nervous! It was a good thing: right at that point, my “real date” walked up. I introduced Mike as a friend and then he left. I thought about him the rest of the day, the rest of the week, the rest of the month, the rest of my life since then.
And in case you’re wondering: Miss Goody-Two-Shoes spilled everything to her parents that very evening, and assured them Mike was a perfect gentleman. They were Not. Amused.
This past Saturday, 15 years after that first meeting, Mike and I were walking hand-in-hand again, this time around one of our favorite little shopping centers in Raleigh. A live band was playing covers of Otis Redding and Tracy Chapman and the sun had just started to set, so the weather was cooling off. We walked out of a store and stood by a fountain in the twilight, giving each other a little hug. “Julie,” he started. Before I knew what was happening, he was down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
At first, the words didn’t register. I thought he was asking . . . I don’t know. Casually? Generally? Like, “Hey, you want to get married someday?” My brain wasn’t working. But it quickly got into gear: he’s down on his knee! in his nice linen pants, even! that means this is, like, the REAL THING.
I think I said something like, “Yes. Wait, really? What? OH. This is happening! YES.” Cue so many tears and so much laughter. He held up the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen — a vintage art deco band from the 1930s, it turns out, though at the time, all I could think was, he even has a ring; oh man, this is totally the real thing!
I’ve always wondered: after the big proposal and related kerfuffle, what does the newly engaged couple do? How do you follow that? Do you talk? Do you pile in your car and go home? Do you go celebrate?
For us, the answer was a lot more nervous laughter and a lot of crying. We probably sat by that fountain for at least 45 minutes afterward, calling my parents, thanking congratulatory passers-by, holding hands, and thinking about our 15 years together. At one point I demonstrated my Zumba moves to Justin Timberlake’s “Mirror.” To be honest, nothing was making sense at that point. We were just so happy, so in love, so excited.
I told Mike as we were walking to the car, “Well, this is the best day of my life so far.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Definitely.”
But if I had to pick a second place, I might pick that first day we met, by that first fountain — the first time I saw the man who I would someday marry.
One year ago: Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Basil Salt and Lemon Garlic Dipping Sauce
Two years ago: Blueberry Cream Cheese Almond Braid
Three years ago: Blueberry Walnut Bread
Strawberry Coconut Cream Pie
Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking, with basic pie recipe modeled on my Aunt Pat’s pie and coconut cream from Zoë Bakes
Yield: one 9-inch pie
This pie is one of the best pies I’ve ever eaten, and Mike’s already asked for a repeat appearance! It doesn’t hold it’s shape well — it’s more of a pudding pie — and so I serve it in a bowl. It’s more than delicious enough to make up for that, though.
Pie Crust Ingredients:
1 blind baked (until golden) and cooled pie crust
Coconut Cream Filling Ingredients:
1 can (14 fluid ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch kosher salt
3 large egg yolks
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup whipping cream
Topping Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
red food coloring (optional; I skipped this)
mint leaves or whole strawberries for garnish (optional)
Directions:
To make filling: Heat the coconut milk, sugar, salt and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and corn starch. Add 1/2 cup of the hot cream slowly to the yolks, whisking as you add. Then pour the yolk mixture into the pot of hot cream and whisk. Continue to whisk with heat on medium-high for 3 more minutes. The mixture will turn thick and bubble. You need to continue to whisk for the full 3 minutes or the pastry cream will separate once it is cool. After the 3 minutes, whisk in the butter. Add the coconut flakes. Pour into a shallow dish to cool.
Cover with plastic wrap pressed right against the pastry cream. This will prevent a thick skin from forming on the surface. Refrigerate for at least an hour or freeze for 30 minutes. Once it is cold, stir the pastry cream to loosen. Whip the 1/2 cup cream to medium peaks. Stir in 1/3 to the pastry cream to lighten. Fold in the remaining cream until the pastry cream is nice and light. Fill baked, cooled pie crust with your coconut filling.
Slice 1 cup of strawberries in thin slices lengthwise and layer the slices in pretty concentric circles around the top of the coconut cream. Set this in the fridge to chill while you make your glaze.
Make the glaze: Crush remaining 1/2 cup of strawberries and boil with water in a saucepan over medium-high heat for two minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and discard the pulp. Add the juice back to the saucepan over medium-high heat and gradually whisk in sugar and cornstarch. Cook until thickened. Mine had lumps of cornstarch despite my best efforts, but no worries; I just strained it again once thickened. If you want, you can tint this glaze with food coloring to desired hue, but mine was plenty bright enough!
Cool the glaze slightly (I transferred mine to a heat-proof measuring cup with a pour spout to cool for a bit) and then pour over top of strawberry slices on your pie. Garnish with big mint leaves, if you’d like, or whole strawberries. Chill entire pie for at least a few hours for best results; cut with a knife held under hot water and then dried. It’ll still be a bit puddingy, so I served mine in a shallow bowl! Use a pie gate (or a makeshift pie gate made from aluminum foil) to keep remaining pie from oozing in the pie plate after slicing.
Nicole (MyLoveForCooking)
June 12, 2013 at 3:51 am (11 years ago)I ADORE this story! Congratulations! This is one of the sweetest stories of love ever. I wish you two a continuation to your lovely life. Oh and the Pie looks heavenly. 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:28 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Nicole!
Angela
June 12, 2013 at 3:52 am (11 years ago)What a sweet story! Congratulations! 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Angela!!
Angela McKenzie
June 12, 2013 at 3:53 am (11 years ago)What a great, romantic story! You should type that up and have it in your wedding program. So adorable for your guests to read!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)I love that idea! Thanks so much, Angela! 🙂
Kerry
June 12, 2013 at 3:59 am (11 years ago)Congratulations! I had a feeling this might be the “big news” you hinted at… Very happy for you, and the best part is, it only gets better from here! 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Kerry! That’s great to hear 😉
Terry
June 12, 2013 at 5:37 am (11 years ago)Oh, Julie…..I’m so very happy for you! Congrats.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Terry!
Karla Grant
June 12, 2013 at 6:33 am (11 years ago)Congratulations! What a lovely way to propose. What was the reaction of your parents? lol
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm (11 years ago)LOL, this time around they were a lot more welcoming of the news 😉
Kelly
June 12, 2013 at 6:39 am (11 years ago)Congrats! I just knew this was the announcement. I wanted to skip the first paragraph and go right to the proposal!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)LOL! Thank you, Kelly!!
Andrea
June 12, 2013 at 10:50 am (11 years ago)Congratulations Julie!!!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Andrea!
Coyoty
June 12, 2013 at 10:57 am (11 years ago)Congratulations!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Coyoty 🙂
Candice @ The Savory and The Beautiful
June 12, 2013 at 11:46 am (11 years ago)Oh wow FELICIDADES Julie! I love how you have that younger more innocent memory of your love. Well I suppose it’s on to Pinterest you go, good luck 😉
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:35 pm (11 years ago)LOL, thank you, Candice!
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
June 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm (11 years ago)Engagment and pie! Oh you are so lucky. I hope your days are filled with many more happy events with your partner.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:36 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Belinda!
Amanda @ Food, Fitness, Faith
June 12, 2013 at 12:07 pm (11 years ago)Woohoo! Congrats Julie! You are going to make a beautiful bride!!! (Maybe Mike can grow out another ponytail for the ceremony ;))
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:37 pm (11 years ago)Haha, I doubt it!! He’s had a shaved head for years now. Thankfully, I like that just as much (probably better now that I’m not 14. LOL!)
Thank you, Amanda!
brandi
June 12, 2013 at 12:40 pm (11 years ago)congratulations!!! what a sweet story you two have 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:37 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Brandi!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
June 12, 2013 at 1:29 pm (11 years ago)Holy cow!!! Congrats on your engagement. It is such a fun and special time in a gal’s life. And this pie is incredible!!!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:33 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Jocelyn!
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes
June 12, 2013 at 1:31 pm (11 years ago)Oh, so cute girl! After 15 years, it just couldn´t surprise you more, I love that. So happy for you. And a stunner of a pie to top it off!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:33 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Paula! 🙂
Courtney @ Neighborfood
June 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! What a great love story you can share forever! Now, let the wedding plans commence. 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Courtney!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
June 12, 2013 at 1:56 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! So happy for you.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Miss 😉
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
June 12, 2013 at 2:00 pm (11 years ago)Wow congrats!!! And an amazing pie to go with an amazing story
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Erin!
Kathleen Purvis
June 12, 2013 at 2:20 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations, Julie! That’s such wonderful news. I can’t wait to hear what you’re going to do for a wedding cake (and a photographer).
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:32 pm (11 years ago)Thanks so much, Kathleen! 🙂 We are doing a teensy, quick summer affair, I think, before I move to Raleigh! We’re thinking of getting married at a restaurant — how appropriate. LOL! Thanks so much for all your support!
Theresa
June 12, 2013 at 2:22 pm (11 years ago)The pie sounds amazing, but I’m too distracted by what is quite possibly the cutest love story ever to fully appreciate it. Congratulations! 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Theresa 🙂
Laura
June 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! How very, very exciting 🙂 And strawberry coconut pie sounds amazing!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Laura!
Jenny @ BAKE
June 12, 2013 at 3:11 pm (11 years ago)CONGRATULATIONS!! you must be over the moon! that’s such a cute story too! This pie looks amazing!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Jenny!
Amy @ Elephant Eats
June 12, 2013 at 3:50 pm (11 years ago)What a wonderful story!!! Congratulations! How cute that you’ve been together so long. Oh and this pie looks awesome!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:31 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Amy!
Savannagal
June 12, 2013 at 4:19 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! That was such a heart warming story. It brought tears to my eyes. I’d wish you all the happiness in the world, but it sounds like you’ve already found it. All the best.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm (11 years ago)Thanks, girl!
Amy | Club Narwhal
June 12, 2013 at 4:24 pm (11 years ago)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, Julie! And thank you for sharing your awesome first date story (the long hair detail was perfect–I kept picturing a dreamy Jordan Catalano type from My So Called Life). I can’t wait to try this pie and think about the sweetness of your engagement.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm (11 years ago)LOL — YES! His long hair felt just like that to me — so ‘angsty teen drama’ perfect! 😉 Thank you, Amy!
Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks
June 12, 2013 at 4:24 pm (11 years ago)CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE!!! So happy for you, what wonderful news!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:30 pm (11 years ago)Thank you so much, Coco!! I’m over the moon 🙂
Becky
June 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm (11 years ago)Ahhh! How exciting! Congratulations!!!!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Becky!
Faygie
June 12, 2013 at 5:25 pm (11 years ago)Yay! Congratulations!!! I’m so happy for you!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Faygie!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
June 12, 2013 at 6:33 pm (11 years ago)I just had a feeling as I started reading this story that it was going to have that ending. A very happy one, indeed. Congratulations to you and Mike, Julie.
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Amanda!
Laura
June 12, 2013 at 6:58 pm (11 years ago)THAT was an amazing story!! Congratulations!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Laura!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
June 12, 2013 at 9:22 pm (11 years ago)Well, I already yelled out loud with excitement when I saw your post on FB… but now I’m getting teary eyed and have a huge smile on my face. I am so happy for you and Mike!!! You are the sweetest and I’m glad that you are so happy. Please share more stories of your early dating life, I seriously loved this!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Lauren! YOU are so sweet and such an awesome, talented friend. Thanks for sharing in my joy 🙂
Karen B
June 12, 2013 at 9:52 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations to you both! What a wonderful story – made me get choked up actually. I’m looking forward to making this lovely looking pie too. 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 10:07 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Karen 🙂
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
June 12, 2013 at 10:24 pm (11 years ago)Gaaahhhhh so exciting!! Congrats! Enjoy this happy time, it’s truly magical!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 10:40 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Katrina!
Patricia
June 12, 2013 at 10:56 pm (11 years ago)Congrats! Fifteen years is amazing! Enjoy the engagement period and browsing wedding blogs. 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 11:06 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Patricia!
Ala
June 12, 2013 at 11:41 pm (11 years ago)Julie, you are absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. This is why no matter how far away I go, I always find myself coming back to your absolutely stunning stories. Congrats again and over again to both of you!
Julie Ruble
June 12, 2013 at 11:47 pm (11 years ago)Thanks so much, Ala!! 🙂
Carla
June 12, 2013 at 11:49 pm (11 years ago)Congrats on being engaged! So exciting and hope I can experience it someday. Love the sound of pairing coconut cream and strawberries into a pie.
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 2:33 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Carla!!
Christina
June 13, 2013 at 12:37 am (11 years ago)Ahhh, congratulations!! Obviously he has good sense because he asked you to marry him AND he’s a Gamecocks fan 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 2:34 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Christina 😀
Tina C
June 13, 2013 at 2:37 am (11 years ago)Congratulations! Love the story. If you told it as a parable in class would the moral be that sometimes its okay to lie? Certainly worked out in your case.
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 2:48 am (11 years ago)LOL, well it led to lots of trouble in the meantime! And I think I’d add for my students’ benefit: Mike TOTALLY could’ve turned out to be a stalker or worse — you never really know, right? I can’t believe I met someone without my parents knowing 😛
Darla
June 13, 2013 at 2:45 am (11 years ago)I have to confess that I’m often very non-romantic and “meh” and all “get on with the food/clothes/travel pics/etc” when bloggers post personal news. But you totally got me. Well told, well written, and very sweet! Congratulations! Does he still have the long(!) hair?
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 3:06 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Darla! He cut the long hair off many years ago and now has a totally shaved head! Turns out I think it’s just as handsome 😉
Jennifer- The Adventuresome Kitchen
June 13, 2013 at 2:54 am (11 years ago)OMG!!!!! How can you even write coherently about strawberry pie when you’re springing THAT on us????!!?
I’ve been waiting to read that post for months!! Many congratulations and years if wedded bliss! This summer we celebrate 15 years of marriage and it keeps getting better.
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 3:06 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Jennifer!! And congratulations to you, as well! Yay, love!
Phyllis
June 13, 2013 at 2:54 am (11 years ago)What a sweet story. Many, many happy years!!
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 3:07 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Phyllis!
Nicole
June 13, 2013 at 2:55 am (11 years ago)Gorgeous Pie! … and Congratulations on the happy news 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 3:08 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Nicole!
Luisa
June 13, 2013 at 2:56 am (11 years ago)Wha a hapy story. It made me happy to read it. all the best to you two.
Julie Ruble
June 13, 2013 at 3:08 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Luisa!
L (___tornprincess)
June 13, 2013 at 3:25 am (11 years ago)I cried reading this 🙂 I know I already told you, but I’m so happy for you and Mike and it’s such a sweet story.
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:13 am (11 years ago)Thank you so much for all your support through the hard times <3
Cheryl P
June 13, 2013 at 4:27 am (11 years ago)Oh, congratulations!! 🙂 I just love your writing! 🙂 I’m a fairly new follower, so in my head I’m wondering, “were you together that whole 15 yrs?!” I also have a certain affinity for every time you mention “Raleigh”, since “my” guy lives in Rocky Mount (’bout 50 min from Raleigh) and I live in Colorado Springs, CO! We’ve been trying to traverse this whole relationship thing for 5 yrs now, wondering/waiting/hoping to see how the Lord might bring things together. (we’re also quite a bit older, in our 40’s lol) Oh, and the pie looks delish! 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:12 am (11 years ago)Thank you! Aw, I hope you guys get closer soon! That’s a hard distance, especially for 5 years!
As for me and Mike, we’ve been together all 15 years with one significant break up. You can read about THAT here (it makes it sweeter that we’re engaged now!): http://willowbirdbaking.com/2011/01/17/lemon-berry-crumble-breakup-bars/
Cynthia Veenstra
June 13, 2013 at 7:18 am (11 years ago)Oh My God!! For real? This is the best story ever! You should write a book about it 🙂 When I was reading the first part about you meeting him for the first time, I was like ‘please let them meet again or something…’. And I was so happy to read that you’re still together after 15 years! I mean, how often do fairytales come true really?
Congratulations to the both of you and I hope you have a beautiful wedding!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:13 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Cynthia 😀
nags
June 13, 2013 at 9:37 am (11 years ago)i rarely read stories before recipes but omg, am i glad i did this time. beautiful! congratulations 🙂
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:11 am (11 years ago)Thanks, Nags!
Heather
June 13, 2013 at 10:45 am (11 years ago)Mazel Tov! I recently got engaged too but my story is not nearly as cute as yours, though I did think he was joking too (my response was: are you asking me for real?). So exciting! Also, I thought 8 years was a long time, but 15?! Glad my fiance (I keep writing boyfriend still, lol) doesn’t read this!
Oh yeah, the pie look amazing too!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:11 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Heather! 🙂 Congratulations to you, too!!
marie
June 13, 2013 at 1:47 pm (11 years ago)This is such a beautiful pie and it looks so yummy, too!
I will definitely make this, if I can find strawberries that are ripe and pretty enough.
Congratulations on your engagement! You have been together for 15 year? Wow, that is an achievement in itself 😉
Have a happy life together!
🙂
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:10 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Marie! We’ve been together all 15 years with one significant break up. You can read about THAT here (it makes it sweeter that we’re engaged now!): http://willowbirdbaking.com/2011/01/17/lemon-berry-crumble-breakup-bars/
marie
June 25, 2013 at 8:41 pm (11 years ago)oh julie, i am so glad i read this *after* you already got back together. your thankfulness for the time you had is so heart-touchingly sad.
it makes me all the more happy that you got this extra happy ending now!
i believe relationships who can survive hard times before people bind themselves eternally (which at least to me is what marriage is supposed to be) will be much better and longer (or even ever) lasting!
i wish you all the best and thank you for sharing those moments and recipes with us!
you seem to be such a positive person, i wish we could be friends, but alas an entire ocean separates us!
🙂
Lauren and Ashley
June 13, 2013 at 5:34 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations Ms Ruble, we are super excited for you! We are going to miss you so much next year, come back and visit!
<3 Lauren and Ashley
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)Aw, thanks ladies! I miss you both already. I will definitely come and visit 🙂
Kelly
June 13, 2013 at 7:14 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations!!! I just love your writing and I love that I didn’t catch where this was going until he was down on one knee! Enjoy this time, being engaged is so much fun.
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Kelly! 🙂
Courtney
June 13, 2013 at 8:31 pm (11 years ago)1. GO COCKS!
2. CONGRATS!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)Thanks 😀
Katy
June 13, 2013 at 9:45 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! I don’t know why, but I kept waiting to read an engagement post. God bless you and Mike!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Katy!
Teal Cuttlefish
June 13, 2013 at 10:36 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! Best of luck to you both!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:07 am (11 years ago)Thank you!!
Angela @ The Dancer Bakes
June 13, 2013 at 11:07 pm (11 years ago)I am SO happy for you two!!! Congratulations and best wishes for years and years to come – marriage is the most fun challenge ever! And also, this pie is getting made ASAP in our home – can’t really think of a combination that would thrill the hubby more! xx
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:06 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Angela! I love that description: “the most fun challenge ever”!
Suzanne
June 14, 2013 at 2:05 am (11 years ago)Congratulations! That was the sweetest story! It made my day.
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:02 am (11 years ago)Thanks, Suzanne! 🙂
Tame Adams
June 14, 2013 at 2:43 am (11 years ago)What a simply wonderful story!!! Congratulations to you and Mike & may God bless you to have more wonderful memories to come 🙂
What a great strawberry pie recipe!!! I’ll will simply have to try it 🙂
Tame
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 4:02 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Tame!
Gillian in Wales
June 14, 2013 at 9:50 am (11 years ago)How lovely, lovely, lovely. And so beautifully written.
Congratulations to you both. Enjoy the glow of being engaged, and relax and have FUN planning the wedding. ~I can see there being plenty of foodie stuff involved!!
Julie Ruble
June 15, 2013 at 12:41 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Gillian!
Denise
June 14, 2013 at 10:47 am (11 years ago)Congratulations Julie! I’ve been a long time reader of your blog and followed your journey to this day…so happy for you!
Julie Ruble
June 15, 2013 at 12:42 am (11 years ago)Thanks so much, Denise — for the congratulations and for reading along with me!
Tanna
June 14, 2013 at 4:15 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations! Such a cute story! Oh and the pie looks amazing!
Julie Ruble
June 15, 2013 at 12:42 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Tanna!
Peyton
June 14, 2013 at 10:11 pm (11 years ago)Ms. Ruble- This is the sweetest story ever! I’m so happy for you! Congratulations to you both! I bet moving was worth it now:)!
Julie Ruble
June 14, 2013 at 11:00 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Peyton! I do feel a LITTLE better about moving, but I will still miss you all so much! Have a wonderful summer!
christina.vd
June 15, 2013 at 12:30 am (11 years ago)Congratulations Julie! What terrifically happy news!
Julie Ruble
June 15, 2013 at 12:42 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Christina!
Sarah Bowers
June 16, 2013 at 2:19 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations, Julie! I could not be happier for you! And, a perfect recipe to go with what sounds like a perfect proposal.
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 1:37 am (11 years ago)Thank you, Sarah!!
June g.
June 16, 2013 at 11:58 pm (11 years ago)Omigosh! I just want lick my iPad screen! This look so delicious!
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 1:38 am (11 years ago)Thanks, June!
June g.
June 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm (11 years ago)Pardon my spelling errors above….I was a little excited;)
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 1:38 am (11 years ago)LOL, I completely understand when it comes to coconut 😉
BB
June 17, 2013 at 12:09 am (11 years ago)Stumbled upon this post from Jessica’s blog (How Sweet Eats) and OH MY GOD I actually started crying reading this. So so so so so wonderful. Congratulations! Also, I just bookmarked your blog and it will be one of my daily reads!
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 1:39 am (11 years ago)Aww, thank you, BB, and welcome. LOVE Jessica 🙂
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
June 17, 2013 at 10:30 am (11 years ago)Totally teared up! Sniff. What an amazing story. And the strawberry pie. Now I am fainting!
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 2:38 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Katie!
Katriel
June 17, 2013 at 3:14 pm (11 years ago)Was sent over to your website by How Sweet Eats this morning. Best way to start a Monday is to read a good how we first me/proposal story. So sweet! Congratulations! And this pie sounds awesome!
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 3:18 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Katriel!!
Julie
June 17, 2013 at 8:10 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations!!
Julie Ruble
June 17, 2013 at 8:21 pm (11 years ago)Thank you, Julie!
Toyota Smith
June 17, 2013 at 9:27 pm (11 years ago)That was a beautiful story, your romance sounds like the perfect fairytale. Congratulations and good luck! x
Kathryn
June 18, 2013 at 12:22 am (11 years ago)I stumbled onto your blog through Pinterest – through a link to your berry crumble break up bar recipe from over 2 years ago. It was a sad story I read along with a delicious recipe. I decided to see what your most recent recipe was, to find this wonderful romantic story! Congratulations and best wishes for a happy and wonderful life together!
natalie@thesweetslife
June 18, 2013 at 12:46 am (11 years ago)what a fantastic story! i could not be more happy for you–enjoy this joyful time!
Katy
June 18, 2013 at 12:58 am (11 years ago)Congratulations, Julie! Wishing you two a wonderful and delicious happily ever after 🙂
DessertForTwo
June 18, 2013 at 12:26 pm (11 years ago)JULIE!!!! CONGRATS!!!
Oh my gosh! I’m so happy for you! We all are so happy for you! We’ve all been reading along about your adventures with Mike and now it’s come to this! Wow! I”m so happy!
And that ring?! Oh my lands! Art deco is the only way to go. I love love love it!
Congrats again, Julie! 🙂 xo
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
June 19, 2013 at 6:48 am (11 years ago)What a cute story! Congrats! And I loved that you did your Zumba moves to JT’s song. That’s a sure way to celebrate a happy engagement.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
June 19, 2013 at 4:31 pm (11 years ago)OMG this strawberry pie is amazing and sweet (I’m going to bake it this weekend) but your story of your “first date” with Mike and the engagement 15 years later is even more amazing and sweeter! What a fabulous memory to have of when you first got together. See, it was meant to be, and totally worth it lying to your parents, right? I lied to my parents all.the.time when I was a teenager and we’re none the worse for wear. It’s just protecting them from things they’d rather not know 😉
Issy Goode
June 23, 2013 at 7:24 pm (11 years ago)This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read, I’m crying and I don’t know you! Congratulations!
xxx
Jayne
June 24, 2013 at 2:31 am (11 years ago)I had only just saw this post and it made me really really embarrassingly teary in my office. Have. to. pretend. to. rub. eyes. Wish you much love and joy with your sweetheart. I’m married to mine and life has been a bliss. 🙂
MelodyJ
June 26, 2013 at 4:39 am (11 years ago)Great story. I saw your post on live journal. Congrats. Thanks for the recipe. Where did he get a 1930’s Art Deco ring?
Julie Ruble
June 26, 2013 at 4:51 am (11 years ago)Thanks, Melody 🙂 He found it on Etsy.
Rebecca
June 26, 2013 at 3:00 pm (11 years ago)Congratulations Julie! I love this story, it will be one you remember and re-tell forever 🙂
Carrie D.
June 27, 2013 at 3:32 pm (11 years ago)Sorry I’m late to the party; I’m just catching up. Congratulations to you and Mike! What a fabulous story! Y’all have been together for 15 years?! Amazing! I dated my husband a grand total of one month before he proposed. When you know, you know. We’ll celebrate 13 years this fall. Congrats again to you both!
Lisa Roszler
June 29, 2013 at 2:00 am (11 years ago)Sweet!
The pie looks amazing, the story was beautiful and I am so happy for you! <3
By the way, this is Anthony's grandma, of VBS Zucchini Bread fame. 🙂 I looked for you at VBS and did not see you, but Anthony told me Friday (on the way home!) that he spoke with you. 🙂 If I had known you were there, we would have brought you some homemade gluten-free chocolate chip cookies! Ah, well. I am subscribed to your blog, so I'll just keep up with you there. Thank you again for the impact you made on Anthony's life last year. 🙂 It was for eternity!
Peggy Esposito
August 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm (11 years ago)Hi Julie – I clicked on your pie recipe and normally I get annoyed at people who write a bunch of stuff when all I want is the freaking recipe but YOUR story? I forgot all about the pie and was brought back to many years ago when I was that age and felt the same feelings of excitement and extreme insecurity at the same time…great story and I’m so happy for you both – does he still have the ponytail? Gotta love a man with a nice pony!!! Oh and thanks for the recipe, too! 🙂
maria lucia cotruffo
October 30, 2013 at 11:46 am (11 years ago)First of all, as I am from Brazil, English is not my first language so, please forgive my mistakes. I speak Portuguese. Reading your story I agree with so many of your readers and found out that you are a very romantic and kind girl. I was happy that your dream came true and you married the guy you loved for so long… I do hope it will last forever.
About your strawberry pie, (I got it on Pinterest) was really amazing! I keep doing it every time I want to serve something special to my friends so I want to thank you so very much for your talent and your time and your kindness to share it with us…Good bless you and a hug from me and from Brazil….
Julie Ruble
November 4, 2013 at 11:44 am (11 years ago)Aw, thank you so much for your sweet comment, Maria!
Kaitlin Bates
November 11, 2014 at 11:24 am (10 years ago)This is so adorable. I can’t not subscribe to your blog now. I have to
Eva
June 9, 2015 at 3:52 pm (9 years ago)This looks delicious! Im still deciding between the coconut cake and this one. One of these fab cakes is going to be my birthday present to myself!
Julie, is there a way you could thicken the coconut cream filling to keep the crust crunchy? Or any other way of preventing the crust the get wet.
Also, I cant find sweetened flakes, would it be alright to use unsweetened coconut flakes and increase the amount of sugar slightly? I dont like my cakes to be overly sweet though.
Beautiful blog,
Much love!
Julie Ruble
June 9, 2015 at 3:59 pm (9 years ago)Hi Eva! That’s a hard choice — but either way you’ll be pleased, I think! In terms of thickening the coconut cream, there definitely is. I’d try increasing the cornstarch in the coconut pastry cream to 1/3 cup. You can also add a layer of thinly rolled almond paste OR slivered almonds to the bottom of the crust to protect it from moisture. No worries about using unsweetened flakes with a little extra sugar — that should be just fine. Let me know how it goes! Happy upcoming birthday!
Ellen
June 14, 2016 at 1:10 pm (8 years ago)Julie–keep out a Tbsp of the cold water and mix it with the cornstarch. After cooking remaining water, sugar and berries, strain and return the juice to the pan–then add in the dissolved cornstarch. It doesn’t like hot when it is dry and must be dissolved in cold water first. Should thicken nicely…straining works too if necessary!
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