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Caption: Blueberry Pie #summerpie
Caption: Summer calls for fruit pies and one of my husband's favorites is blueberry.
I've used Betty Crocker's recipe and made a few changes here and there to add in things we like.
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Caption: Start with 3 cups flour and 2/3 cup + 2 TBS shortening or unsalted butter.
I have shortening pictured here but I have to say I like the flavor of the crust more when butter is used.
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Caption: Don't forget the salt!
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Caption: COMBINE Using a pastry cutter -or 2 knives- combine all 3 ingredients together until it has the consistency of small peas.
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Caption: Add 4-6 TBS of ice cold water 1 at a time to pastry mix using a fork to stir until dough begins to come together and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl
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Caption: Divide dough in two.
Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 45 mins or until dough is chilled and playable
Caption: MEANWHILE
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Caption: 3/4 c sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
::my addition:: 1/8 tsp nutmeg
::my alteration:: add juice of half of a lemon (the recipe calls for this to be added when filling the pie but I like a little extra acidity so I add 1/2 now and 1/2 later)
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Caption: MIX With 6 cups blueberries
Caption: "Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet" -Aristotle
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Caption: After everything has finished chilling it's time to roll your dough while your oven pre-heats.
Make sure you've rolled it evenly and kept it in as much of a circle as possible
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Caption: FILL 'ER UP After laying your first layer of dough fill with the blueberries using left-over sugar mixture to top.
Also, give the other half of that lemon a squeeze around the top
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Caption: Place top crust on and trim your edges. I use any extra bits to help make my "design"
Caption: THIS IS IMPORTANT Make sure you:
A) flute your pie -- this allows extra steam to escape so that your berries and crust are both cooked correctly
B) wrap your edges -- there are fewer things that will ruin your pie than a burnt crust. Use tinfoil to cover your edges for the first 30 minutes of cooking. And then remove for the last 15. This allows the edges to brown and not burn
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Caption: After baking, remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Or, you know, in your kitchen window
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Caption: Et voilà