Grandma’s Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Hard to find the best recipe for rhubarb pie but this one is foolproof! Grandma said so! If you never tried to make this before
it’s easy and so delicious. The Strawberries and Rhubarb are the perfect match for this pie. A little tart and a little sweet.

The Best Pies

Of course growing up you always remember grandma making the best of everything.
This is one pie that stands out in my mind because everything from crust to pie filling was made from scratch.
It was a rich in flavors and a labor of love making this pie!
To this day all I can think of is her rolling the dough and me anxiously waiting to get that pie out of the oven!
Of course, you can just make a whole top crust, if you don’t want to get fancy with lattice!

Ingredients

CRUST:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional flour as needed, up to 1/4 cup

1/2 cup cake flour (recommended: Soft As Silk)

3 teaspoons sifted powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening (recommended: Crisco)

1/4 cup salted butter

Pinch salt

1 egg

2 teaspoons vinegar

1/4 cup ice cold water

FILLING:

2 1/2 cups chopped red rhubarb, fresh

2 1/2 cups de-stemmed, washed and cut strawberries (in larger pieces)

1 1/2 cups sugar (1 1/4 cups for high altitude)

2 tablespoons minute tapioca

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons butter, cubed small

1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon water

Large granule sugar

Directions

Crust Preparation:

Using 2 pastry blenders, blend the flours, sugar, shortening, butter and salt. Whisk the egg, vinegar and water in a 2-cup measure and pour over the dry ingredients incorporating all the liquid without overworking the dough.

Toss the additional flour over the ball of dough and chill if possible. Divide the dough into 2 disks. Roll out 1 piece of dough to make a bottom crust. Place into a pie dish. Put dish in refrigerator to chill.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Filling Preparation:

Mix the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, tapioca, flour, zest and juice of lemon, dash of cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well in a large bowl and pour out into chilled crust. Dot the top of the filling with the butter.

Brush edges of pie crust with egg white wash. Roll out the other piece of dough and place over filling.

Crimp to seal edges. Brush with egg white wash and garnish with large granule sugar. Collar with foil and bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Decrease temperature to 375 degrees F and bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling starts bubbling. Higher altitude will take 450 degrees F and 400 degrees F respectively. Also, you can use a pie bird for extra decor. Let cool before serving.