OPEN TOP BLUEBERRY PIE RECIPES

Steps:

• Wash the berries, pick them over, discarding damaged specimens. Dry berries gently on a terry cloth towel, rubbing just enough to bruise the fruit. Refrigerate the berries until they are well chilled.
• Sift together the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, chop the shortening into the flour until the particles resemble a mixture of coarse cornmeal and peas.
• Sprinkle water slowly over the top of the flour while tossing the mixture up from the bottom of the bowl with a fork. After about three-quarters of the water has been added, press the dampened part of the dough into a ball and set aside. Add only enough water to dampen the remaining flour mixture. Press all the dough together.
• Place the ball of dough on a floured pastry cloth or board, pat in all directions with a floured rolling pin and then roll from the center out in all directions, loosening the pastry and reflouring the cloth or board and rolling pin, if necessary. Roll into a round about one-eighth of an inch thick and two inches wider than the circumference of the top of a nine-inch pie pan.
• Fold the pastry into quarters, fit loosely into the nine-inch pie pan and press dough against the pan without stretching it. Trim the edge with a sharp knife, allowing the dough to extend slightly beyond the rim of the pan. Prick the bottom of the pastry with a fork in several places to prevent it from buckling while baking.
• Bake the pie shell in a preheated, hot oven (450 degrees) until crisp and delicately browned, about eight to ten minutes. Cool, then refrigerate the pie shell.
• Melt the currant jelly in the top of a double boiler over boiling water. Add the lemon juice and stir.
• Rub the pastry shell with butter. Pour in the blueberries, distributing them evenly over the bottom of the pie crust. Pour the hot, melted currant jelly over the fruit and refrigerate the pie until chilled and set.
• Just before serving, whip the cream until it is stiff and spoon it over the blueberries. Serve at once.

Steps:

• Remove the dough from the refrigerator. If necessary, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes or until it is soft enough to roll.
• Using a pastry cloth and sleeve rubbed with flour or two sheets of plastic wrap lightly sprinkled with flour, roll the dough 1/8 inch thick or less and large enough to cut a 13-inch circle. Use an expandable flan ring or a cardboard template and a sharp knife as a guide to cut out the circle. Transfer the dough to the pie pan, fold under the excess, and crimp the border using a fork or your fingers. Cover it loosely and refrigerate it for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F at least 20 minutes before baking.
• Line the pastry with parchment, pleating it as necessary so it fits into the pan, and fill it with rice or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Carefully lift out the rice or beans with the parchment. With a fork, prick the bottom and sides, and bake 5-10 minutes, or until the crust is pale golden. Check after 3 minutes and prick any bubbles that may have formed.
• Cool the crust on a rack for 3 minutes, so it is no longer piping hot, then brush the bottom and sides with the egg white.
• Measure out 1 cup of the blueberries, choosing he softest ones. Place them in a medium saucepan together with the 1/2 cup water. Cover and bring them to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the remaining 2 tablespoons of water. Set it aside.
• When the water and blueberries have come to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes or until the blueberries start to burst and the juices begin to thicken. Stirring constantly, add the cornstarch mixture, the sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Simmer for a minute or until the mixture becomes translucent. Immediately remove it from the heat and quickly fold in the remaining 3 cups of blueberries.
• Spoon the mixture into the baked pie shell and allow to sit at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving. When set, the berries will remain very juicy but will not flow out of the crust.
• Just before serving, if desired, pipe or spread the whipped cream around the sides of the pie, leaving the center unadorned and brilliantly glistening.
• Room temperature, up to 2 days (without the whipped cream).