Sorry about the title of this post. But I have had two intense emotional experiences with this particular blueberry pie and therefore feel entitled to my goofy, grammatically nonsensical pun, okay?
The first was at its place of origin, The Grit in Athens, Georgia. I was on tour, feeling homesick and fragile, and a slice of this pie moved me to tears. I don't know if it was the crying or the eating that helped, all I know is I cleaned my plate and was happier, and since then I have attributed therapeutic powers to The Grit's blueberry pie. I acquired the recipe years ago, but haven't turned to it until this summer, on a tough weekend when I felt too down to do much of anything. Once again, the pie did not disappoint.
I guess that any absorbing activity, anything that takes your focus out of your bad brain, can assuage a bout of the blues. The specific advantages of making perfect blueberry pie are: 1) there is a fair amount of booze involved, and 2) the activity concludes with YOU EATING PIE. Which in itself makes everything at least a little bit better.
Perfect Blueberry Pie
Adapted from a recipe in The Grit Restaurant Cookbook
Pie Crust for double-crust pie (we
use the Cook’s Illustrated recipe for
vodka piecrust and it turns out great every time)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Juice and zest of 1 medium lemon
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons brandy
4 -1/2 cups fresh blueberries
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter, chopped into
small pieces
1 heaping tablespoon sour cream
1 tablespoon flour
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 450. Line a deep
pie pan with ½ of pie crust.
Combine cornstarch, lemon juice,
lemon zest, vanilla, and brandy and mix well. Add blueberries, sugar, butter,
sour cream, flour and cinnamon and gently stir until combined. Pour into pie
crust and cover with top crust.
Place pie on a large cookie sheet
(Very important! This is a very juicy pie that will explode all over
your oven!).
Bake at 450 for ten minutes, then reduce heat to 350. Bake an additional 50-55 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Cool completely at room temperature
and then refrigerate until tomorrow, if you can stand to wait. Your patience will be rewarded.
