Bumbleberry Pie

Sunday 28 July 2013


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Bumbleberries . . . they're something I have in abundance this time of year.   My fruit is ripening, but in small amounts . . . a handful of blueberries here, a handful of raspberries there.   The last few strawberries . . . stragglers, etc.

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You know what I mean . . . you have lots of berries hanging about, but not enough of any ONE berry to do anything that is distinctly dedicated to just them.   It's Bumbleberry season!

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You don't even need to grow your own.  It could be a few blueberries leftover from making pancakes or muffins.   Perhaps a friend dropped off a pint of raspberries.  You didn't use all of the berries you bought for strawberry shortcake.  A little bit here, and a little bit there and you've got Bumbleberries!!

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Bumbleberries make the most delicious pie!  A balance of sweet and tart that pleases with every mouthful.  I don't know anyone that doesn't enjoy this lovely pie.  I, myself, am not fond of cooked strawberry pie, but I love them in this pie, full stop.

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It's gorgeous served just slightly warm with a bit of  vanilla ice cream scooped and settled on top!!   Okay . . . so that's one mega scoop sitting there, but hey!   In for a penny in for a pound!

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And who can blame me?  Really.  I know . . . I'm one weak willed puddy tat.


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*Bumbleberry Pie*
Makes one 9 inch pie  
A delicious pie composed of five berries.  Perfect for berry season when all of them are coming in fast and furious and you don't have enough of any one kind to do anything substantial with!
Pastry for a two crust pie
Filling:
1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries, picked over and washed
1 1/4 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup black or red currants, or cranberries if you can't get the currants
(if using cranberries, coarsely chop them)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 to 2 TBS cornflour (cornstarch)
1/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
pinch salt
the juice of 1/2 lemon
the finely grated zest of 1/2 un-waxed lemon
Cream for brushing and sugar for sprinkling  

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Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. 
Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.   Gently fold the berries together in a bowl.  Stir in the sugar mixture along with the lemon zest and the lemon juice.  Let stand for a few minutes, while you roll out the pastry.

Roll out half of the pastry to fit into a 9 inch pie dish with a bit of an overhang.    Roll out the other half to fit over the top.   Pour in the berry mixture.  Top with the top crust.  Press together along the edge, trim to an even 1/2 inch.  Flute.  Cut several steam vents into the top of the pie.  Brush generously with cream and sprinkle with sugar.

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Place a foil lined pan on the bottom rack of the oven, and then place  the pie on the centre oven rack, over it.   Bake for 30 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5, Turn the pie 180 degrees, and then bake for a further 35 to 40 minutes, until the juices are bubbling thickly and the pastry is done.

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If it appears to be browning too quickly, cover with foil during the last 10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool for at least an hour before serving.

6 comments

  1. I like the way you have done the steam vents. They make it look even more delicious!

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  2. love these Marie look so cute with these littlr steam vents;)
    have s nice Sunday, xoxoxo

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  3. I wish I could have had a tiny slice and a bit of ice cream.... just now.

    Well, it will be just coffee I think.

    God morgen / good morning from

    Gunn in Stavanger/Norway.

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  4. Another superb recipe as always! Really looking forward to trying this one. Thanks Marie

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  5. Hi Marie
    I was at a party the other day where they served small individual lemon meringues. The pastry looked like the common biscuit crumb + butter type, but was quite firm and did not crumble when you bit into it. Do you know how this was made? Can you also tell me how to get the lovely firm meringue on top, as mine (on normal sized tart) always drops when taken out of the oven and becomes sticky with droplets on top.
    PLEASE help as I'm hosting Book Club next Saturday and would love to make this.
    Regards Cath

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  6. HI Cath. Here is the link to my recipe for pastry. It creates a lovely flaky pastry which is short but sturdy and will not crumble easily. In short, perfect!

    https://sites.google.com/site/oakcottagerecipes/basic-flaky-pie-crust

    Now about the Meringue. Here is my failproof method of making meringue for a pie like a Lemon Meringue Pie (4 large egg whites (at room temperature) 1/4 tsp cream of tartar, pinch salt, 1/2 cup of superfine sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Beat the whites with an electric mixer until they hold soft peaks on medium high speed. Add the cream of tartar and salt. Beat in the superfine sugar, 1 TBS at a time, beating until the meringue is thick and glossy, but not dry. Add vanilla and beat briefly. Mound the meringue over the filling, spreading it so that it is domed in the centre and touching the crust all around the edges. Place the pie onto the centre oven rack and briefly brown under a broiler. Don't walk away, but watch it carefully. This results in a lovely meringue, in a much quicker time, and avoiding the rubbery texture you can sometimes get in meringues. I like to chill my pie really well before adding the meringue topping. Just cover the surface with cling film to prevent a skin from forming, and then add the meringue as above and broil just an hour or so prior to serving. Cut the pie into slices with a wet knife. Sticky droplets on top of a meringue indicate to me that too much sugar is being used. Hope this helps!

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