RHUBARB MINI PIES

I adore mini pies, and I'm madly in love with the mini pie maker that I got on sale at Williams-Sonoma for $100 off in April. The first pies I made were mini cherry pies. Since April, I have made just about every fruit pie you can name, and my new favorite is Rhubarb. Most of the pies I have given away, and my mom always enjoys the weekly delivery.

                  

I used a Rhubarb Pie recipe from Thibeault's Table (Rhubarb Pie Source: Madame Benoit Cooks at Home 1978)  It is the best rhubarb pie filling I have ever had. I baked the filling in a casserole dish before using it in the pie maker, and cut the recipe in half to make FOUR mini pies.

I have been experimenting with different store bought pie crusts to use in the pie maker, and the frozen Belmont brand deep dish pie crusts are the best by far. I found them at Aldi's in the freezer section, and they come in 9" reusable pans (keep the sturdy pans for future use). I thaw the pie crust in the refrigerator, and then remove it from the pan and roll it just enough to flatten the crimped edges. (see photo below) 

The pies sit on a tiered stand until I make my deliveries. Or until I eat one :-)

The recipe:

4 cups rhubarb, cut in to 1/2 inch pieces

2 eggs

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons flour

pinch of salt

juice of 1/2 small lemon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pastry for two crusts

1 tablespoon sugar

Roll out dough for bottom crust and line pie plate with pastry. Beat eggs lightly, and then stir in brown and white sugars, flour, lemon juice, salt and extract. Mix in rhubarb. Pour into pour in to pie shell. Roll out remaining pastry and cut into strips. Weave pastry strips over top and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake in a 450°F oven on bottom shelf for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350° and move pie to middle of the oven. Continue baking for 25 to 35 minutes.

While I was picking rhubarb from the garden, I took time to enjoy the joyous June blooms. 

Thank you for stopping by!

xxoo

Debbie