A taste of Spring

Lattice-topped rhubarb pie is often welcomed as the first fruit pie of Spring. Here is a straight-up rhubarb pie recipe without strawberries, raspberries, or other filler fruit. This recipe is for purists who like that tart rhubarb flavor to prevail!

Ingredients:

• Pastry for a double crust pie
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 bunch (1 pound) rhubarb cut in 1-1/2 inch lengths
• 2 teaspoon grated orange rind (or 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind)
• Juice of one orange
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions:

• Divide the pastry into unequal halves. Roll out the larger portion and fit into a 9-inch pie pan. Trim the pastry 1/2 inch beyond the rim of the pan. Roll out the remaining pastry to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into strips about 3/4 inch wide. Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add the rhubarb, rind, and juice and toss until well mixed. Tint pink if desired and fold into the pastry shell. Dot with butter. Arrange the pastry strips over the pie in a lattice pattern securing it to the pie shell firmly and fluting the pie shell and strips together to form a high rim. Brush the pastry with a little milk and sprinkle sugar over it. Bake in a 400 degrees F oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the filling has bubbles. 

Reference material taken in part from the following source(s): Old Farmer’s Almanac