Saturday, May 22, 2010

Double-Crust Jumble Berry Pie

Confession: I've never made a pie before. Well, before I made this one, anyway.

So my dad really loves pie (that was the standard dessert at his house, so there's a real element of comfort for him) and I love buying fruit at Costco and Sam's. It's got this ridiculous Siren Song... it's so beautiful and shiny and those deep beautiful colors and such reasonable prices and just think of ALL the endless possibilities! .... sooo, I always have lots of fruit in the summer. But unless you eat only fruit (hello, "skitters" as they say in The Grapes of Wrath!) or you have a (usually unhealthy) fruit dip for encouragement, you need another vessel to get the fruit to your mouth.

Enter the Double-Crust Jumble Berry Pie.

Made with strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries (though you could really add any fruit you like), my dad declared this one of the best pies he had EVER eaten. That's a pretty big statement coming from a man who grew up on pie. The best part? It's easy. And I mean... EASY. Even for someone who had never made a pie before!








Give this baby a shot! You (and those who eat with you) will be glad you did. And if you, too, answer to the siren song of the fruit section at your local wholesaler, you'll feel much better about your purchases. :)

Double-Crust Jumble Berry Pie (adapted from Fine Cooking)

1 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
1/4 tsp. salt
6 c. washed and dried mix of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and quartered strawberries
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 pkg. refrigerated pie dough (2 9-inch rounds)

In a large bowl, mix together sugar, cornstarch, tapioca, and salt. Add the berries and toss until berries are evenly coated. Meanwhile, line glass pie plate with one round of dough. Pile berries into dough-lined pie plate, sprinkling any remaining dry ingredients on top. Dot surface with butter, cover berry mixture with second pie crust, and seal edges.

Cut 5 or 6 slits in the top crust to let steam escape while cooking. Place pie in refrigerator 15-20 minutes; heat oven to 400° F. Put pie on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes; reduce temperature to 350° F. Continue baking until crust is golden and the filling juices that are bubbling through the vents and edges are thick, glossy, and slow, another 50-60 minutes. Cool the pie completely, then reheat slices slightly before serving.

Note: You can make your own pie crusts if that's your thing. As for me, it's not quite my "thing" yet - but when I get good at it, I'll let you know, and share my secrets.

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