Rhubarb Pie

I started a post Monday night with these words:

I just...

I mean...

I don't even...

Boston.

I have no words. 

Then, instead of writing, I made pie. Chopping jewel-hued stalks of rhubarb and rolling out butter-dotted dough took my mind off the heavy things. It didn't cure our society's evils. But it helped to cure my mounting blues. A little. Once again.

And then...I got to hear author David Sedaris speak last night at a local university. As always, he was hilarious--witty and raw. I laugh so hard; it was such a release.

On the way home from the reading, I thought about laughter...about how good it felt to chuckle and guffaw. I need to do that more often. Laughter is just as healing--even more so--than my favorite comfort foods.

When I got home, I settled down with one of David's books (I own nearly all of them)...and a piece of pie. And in that moment, life was pretty good.

Rhubarb Pie

For the filling:

4-5 cups sliced rhubarb

1 cup sugar

4-5 tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon almond (or vanilla) extract

For the crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoons salt

1 cup cold butter, sliced

ice water

1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• To make the filling: Mix all the ingredients & set aside.
• To make the crust: Mix the flour, sugar, & salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or rub it through your fingertips until you have pea-sized pieces. Add the water, 2 tablespoons at a time, "fluffing" the dough with your fingers after each addition, just until the dough comes together. Gather into a ball & cut in half. 
• Roll out half of the dough & place into the bottom of a pie plate. Add the filling. Roll out the other half of the dough & place on top of the pie, folding & crimping the edges. 
• Brush the pie evenly with the egg/water mixture. 
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 375 degrees and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the crust is deep, golden brown.
• Remove from the oven & let cool before slicing.

More pies:
Coconut Key Lime Pie
Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie
Cherry Streusel Pie
Banana Cream Pie with Chocolate Crumb Crust
French Silk Pie
American Apple Pie