Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

If I inspire you to make one recipe, let this be it.  I try to make this only once or twice a year to preserve just how special it is.  It is a treat that melts in your mouth.  To me, nothing says spring like this pie.  As soon I see rhubarb becoming available, I grab it to make strawberry rhubarb pie.

Let’s talk pie crust.  No judgements if you buy pie crust but how about trying to make it from scratch.  Once you see how easy it is to make using a food processor and how delicious it tastes you will never go back to Pillsbury again.

You start by combining flour, sugar and salt in a food processor.

Next you add diced chilled butter and vegetable shortening.  I know, that’s a lot of butter and shortening but remember, this is a treat.  Using the pulse button, you combine this until a coarse meal forms.  My daughter was my sous-chef for this pie so she helped with this part.

Once that is combined you add ice water.  I usually start by adding six tablespoons and if it’s not coming together, I add another couple tablespoons until it comes together as a ball while pressing the pulse button.

Divide that into two disks and refrigerate them for at least two hours or up to two days.

When you are ready to make your pie remove the dough about a half hour before you intend to roll it out.  To make the filling you want to combine rhubarb, strawberries, sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon and salt.  For this pie I used four stalks of rhubarb.

Roll out one of your dough disks on a floured surface and then place it in a greased glass pie dish.  Then add your fruit filling.

Next roll out your other disk.  Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into strips and then make a cross over the filling.  Continue to make your lattice by alternating going over and under with each strip.  Using kitchen scissors, cut away any excess dough and crimp the edges using a fork.

The last step is to “paint” the pie with egg wash.  You then let it cook for an hour, placing a foil tent on top if the edges start to brown.

You then are faced with a big decision-whether or not to top it with vanilla ice cream.  I love this pie with vanilla ice cream on top but it’s so good just on it’s own.  This pie is so special.  Nothing says spring like strawberry rhubarb pie.  If you like this recipe, you may also like my award-winning peach pie recipe or two-bite pumpkin pies.