![\"Prune-Pie\"](\"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Prune-Pie.jpg\")
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I am writing this on the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, one of the nadirs of a really bad decade that hadn\u2019t even seen Jimmy Carter elected President yet.<\/p>\n
I have to get along to the Gold Cup festival today at Great Meadow, so I am writing ahead a bit.<\/p>\n
We were talking about pies the other night. It had got around to dessert topics, since Lovely Jamie had tucked into a sandwich before coming over and wanted to know what kind of cake Kate Jansen had produced for the evening meal.<\/p>\n
Old Jim was expansive, and began a narrative about the pies of his life. His mother had been an awesome cook- his Dad was a pretty good chef as well, but his mom specialized in the best apple pie in the County, and won the gold medal at the Fair one year that came with a $100 prize.<\/p>\n
That was when a c-note was something significant, and the accomplishment was documented in the Northhampton and Springfield papers.<\/p>\n
His father specialized in a sort of hybrid lemon-cake pie with sweet-sour layer in the middle, but that got me thinking about key-lime and pecan pies, and the discussions rambled from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Mom never looked at a recipe,\u201d declared Jim. \u201cIt got her in trouble one time. She was supposed to make three pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. Woe betide any dog or bird that tried to get close to them as they cooled on the porch railing on the back of the house. Anyway, this time she got distracted by something and when the pies came out of the oven, she realized she had forgotten to include the eggs in the filling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cComplete waste, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bet. The three pies went right into the sink. A complete write-off. She made three more, popped them in the oven, and when they were supposed to be done, she realized she had forgotten the eggs again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOuch. Bet she was out of all the ingredients except the eggs, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYep. She yelled for me and my brother to go the store immediately. She was beside herself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow\u2019s patio was buzzing with the glory of the Spring afternoon and Jasper and Sammy were bustling in and out the double doors serving the thirsty customers.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, we covered all the pies, we could think of, including the cherry pies made from the uniquely succulent fruit grown in Leelanau County in Michigan\u2019s northwest lower peninsula.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what was your favorite pie?\u201d I asked, thinking of all of them in an endless line of shimmering caloric glory.
\nJim smiled and leaned forward. \u201cPrune.\u201d<\/p>\n
Never in my life would I have considered that my favorite pie, but if Jim likes it, I am prepared to give it a try. In the meantime, I need to go put on my seersucker suit, grab a suitable bow tie, slip on my white buck shoes and clap my straw hat on and go to the races at Great Meadow.<\/p>\n
With luck, the gang will be back in time to walk over to Willow to watch the Kentucky Derby.<\/p>\n
Jim\u2019s Prune Pie<\/strong><\/p>\n Ingredients :<\/strong> Directions :<\/strong>![\"prune](\"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/prune-pie2.jpg\")
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\n1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4 C flour
\n2. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 1\/4 C sugar
\n3. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\/4 tsp salt
\n4. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 tsp baking powder
\n5. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 C shortening
\n6. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1 1\/2 lbs prunes, pitted (I used SunSweet Pitted Prunes – 18oz)
\n7. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Pinch of ground cloves
\n8. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\/2 tsp. cinnamon
\n9. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10-15 Tbls. cold water
\n10.Milk<\/p>\n
\n1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heat oven to 350 degrees F
\n2. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and 1\/2 cup of sugar
\n3. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cut in the shortening until the mixture is crumbly
\n4. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add enough cold water to make a soft dough
\n5. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Knead slightly and cut in half
\n6. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Roll out dough, 1\/4 inch thick, and line cookie sheet with one
\n7. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cook prunes in water until soft, about 5-10 minutes, drain
\n8. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mash well, adding 3\/4 cups of sugar (to taste, you may not need it all)
\n9. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Season with cinnamon and cloves
\n10.Spread filling evenly over bottom crust
\n11.Roll out remaining dough, 1\/4 inch thick
\n12.Cover with top crust pinch seams and cut steam vents
\n13.Lightly brush top of pie with milk and sprinkle with sugar
\n14.Bake until crust is slightly brown, approximately 30-40 minutes<\/p>\n