Recipe from the Great American Pie Cook Off Contest Winner

Some how TAG caught the attention of the American Pie Council and now I get what appear to be special emails with the winners and recipes. I am happy to pass on the great picture for you to get all drooly and hungry about. There is hardly a time that I am not starving and I could almost always find room for dessert given the chance. This pie looks like no exception!

This picture shows the winner of the Great American Pie Cook Off Contest. And note: It looks like the woman holding the pie is wearing and apron!! The pie looks scrumptious. The following recipe describes how you too can make your pie look and taste just as good as shown in the photo. This, I promise you on behalf of the American Pie Council! Drum roll please!!!!!!

TOM’S CHEERY CHERRY CHERRY BERRY PIE

Crust:
1 ½ cups of flour
¼ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt 1 tsp sugar
½ cup Crisco shortening

Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer on medium speed swiftly until crust appears “pea like.” Carefully sprinkle ice cold water in crust mix until it just starts to be fully moistened and gathers together. Pat into disc, wrap and refrigerate for at least one half hour. Roll out on floured surface and make and crimp piecrust. Freeze until ready to use.

Filling:
4 ½ cups Montmorency tart cherries –frozen
1 cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
½ tsp real almond extract
1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
½ tsp orange zest
½ cup dried Michigan cherries
1 ½ cups of frozen blueberries

Combine frozen cherries, dried cherries, sugar, cornstarch. Stir constantly on med-hi heat until boiling. Add blueberries. Boil for one minute or until thickened. Add almond extract, lemon juice and zest. Pour blueberries in bottom of pie shell and pour cherry mixture over them.

Crumb Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt
1 stick butter softened

Mix together all crumb topping ingredients by hand or a pastry blender until crumbly. Cover filling with crumb topping. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 45 minutes to one hour or until filling is bubbling over crust.

Be sure you share with your family and don't hide it in the closet to sneak bites when no one is looking!