Blackberry Pie

The Move!
 

 
My only advice is to grab a lanyard and a pair of these sneaks the next time you're at Hot Topic (I know you go there...).  Then you'll look good no matter what you try to do.  

AAAAAAND ... The Cupid Shuffle - you can save yourself a few awkward moments if you start this video at 2:30.

The Beats! 
 
I'm baaaaaack.  A playlist of "underground" hiphop beats with a side of blackberry pie.  They pretty much go hand in hand.  Put vanilla ice cream on top and you've got the best day of your life.  And with my new post, I have a confession ... I went back to work ... as an engineer.  I haven't abandoned the idea of having my own bakery (someday you will drive by a bakery called Superchunk and realize I am famous) but it just wasn't the right time.  And who could pass up waking up before the sun rises and commuting to work?  Not me.  But, in a moment of sincerity and not sarcasm (weird, I know) I feel fortunate to have this job and am looking forward to the challenge.  But back to this post - to celebrate the end of my unemployment I spent the last few days as any unemployed person would - scavenging blackberries and apples from the local parks (yep, you'll probably see the apple pie next).  Ok, this really wasn't about the beats.  Fail. 

 

 
The Treats!

 
I guess I can start by saying I'm pretty obsessed with the blackberries in Washington.  First, my grandfather "GranStan" used to have a private blueberry farm in Georgia that had plenty of blackberry bushes so I like to think that I spent most of my childhood running around buck naked and stained with blackberry juice.  Not really the case, so don't worry.  Second, in Wyoming you don't get many fresh berries, whereas in Washington they call blackberries a weed.  And third, I'm still perplexed by how something that is everywhere can be $3.99 for a half-pint at the grocery store at the same time.  I could probably go out behind the store and pick a pound for free.  So I do ...

What you'll need ...

• 4 cups fresh blackberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1/4 cup white sugar
  
  
  Recommended (optional):
  1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  1 egg
  extra sugar
  Vanilla bean ice cream
• 
  

Combine 3 1/2 cups berries with the sugar and flour.  Since I had so many I went ahead and used at least 4 cups.  Don't worry too much about having too many - You can never have too many. I like to brush part of a beaten egg onto the inside of the pie shell to keep it from getting soggy. Spoon the berry mixture into an unbaked pie shell.

Spread the remaining 1/2 cup berries on top of the sweetened berries.  And if you'd like (I like), squeeze on some lemon juice, dot the top with dollops of butter and finally, cover with the top crust. Seal and crimp the edges.

Brush the top crust with more of the beaten egg, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar. Also, cut a few slits in the crust, or go all out like Martha and put some dough shaped leaves or whatever you'd like ... knock yourself out. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Reduce the temperature of the oven to 375 degrees, and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes.  The egg on top should give your crust a nice golden look.  Cool and eat with an enormous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream!