To truly make an apple pie from scratch you must first create the universe?

That's a fun way to think about it! While you don't need to create the universe to make an apple pie, it's true that a lot of things have to come together:

* The ingredients: Apples, flour, sugar, butter, spices... all of these are products of the natural world, which in turn exists within the universe.

* The tools: The oven, the knife, the measuring cups... all of these are products of human ingenuity, which developed over time within the universe.

* The knowledge: The recipe, the techniques, the understanding of how ingredients work together... these are all products of human experience and learning, which exist within the context of the universe.

So, in a very abstract way, you could argue that the universe provides the foundation for making an apple pie. But in a more practical sense, you can absolutely make a delicious apple pie without worrying about the origins of the universe! 😉