Blueberries are my favorite fruit! If I can stop eating all the fresh blueberries long enough, I love to make blueberry pies. I love so many wonderful blueberry pie recipes, but this one is perfect for the 4th of July! Perfect for a backyard barbecue or to take along to a family reunion, just so wonderfully delicious! If you are short on time or don’t want to make your own crust, use store-bought refrigerated pie crust, which you can find in the dairy section of your grocery store. I like Pillsbury.

Fabulous All-American Blueberry Pie

Crust:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/3 cup sweet butter (I love my Cabot!)

7 tablespoons cold water

Filling:

6 cups blueberries, rinsed and picked over

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup instant tapioca pudding

3/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 tablespoon sweet butter, cut into small pieces

Glaze:

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon whipping cream

Crust: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt with a pastry blender, cut in shortening, and butter until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle water over the top and mix it together with a pastry blender or fingers until it comes together to form a ball. Shape dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic and rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

Filling: Place the rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat oven to 425 F. (I like to put a piece of aluminum foil down or a baking pan on the bottom of the range to catch any drips and keep my oven clean.) Place blueberries in a large mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, combine the remaining ingredients except for the butter. Add dry ingredients to blueberries and gently toss.

Divide pastry in half. On a floured surface, roll one of the pastry halves into a 12-inch round. Fit into a 10-inch pie plate, letting the pastry hang over the edge. Fill with blueberry mixture. Dot with butter. On a floured surface, roll out the remaining dough to 12 inches round. Place over pie. Seal edges and crimp to form a decorative rim.

Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and cream. Brush the top of the pie with glaze. Cut vents into the pie top. You can use mini cookie cutters for a more decorative top.

Bake the pie for 10 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 F. Bake the pie for 35 or 40 minutes longer or until nicely glazed. Cool on rack.

Enjoy!