Rhubarb Custard Pie is not a common one in circles I’m in, but this was a favorite of Marty’s family, and has become a favorite of ours too.
The recipe is Marty’s mom’s. She taught me how to make it – and how to make a simple, but tender and flaky pie crust.
Rhubarb Custard Pie was always one of Pap’s (and IS Nick’s) favorite pie I make. For Marty, it is not complete without a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Many folks I know like to mix rhubarb with something else sweet, like strawberries.
Not here… sliced chunks of the tart, crimson, tangy rhubarb stalks
are a perfect contrast to the creamy, sweet, simple custard to make this a dynamite summertime pie.
We took it to a picnic this weekend, but of course I had to make one for home too.
Here is my recipe in its original form passed on and lovingly stained from my mother-in-law, who taught me so much about baking and cooking and canning… and how sometimes good things are messy. 🙂
The recipe is short and sweet.
I think it takes me longer to clean up than it does to make it.
You may notice the recipe does not include how to make the pie crust, so here is our “secret family recipe.”
Note that I was making 6 crusts in these photos (for 3 pies), but my recipe will be for one crust. You simply double or triple or quadruple, etc. as necessary.
For 1 pie crust, mix 1 cup flour, a heaping 1/3 cup Crisco shortening, and a dash of salt in a bowl blending with a pastry blender till crumbly.
Add enough cold water to just moisten and be able to form a ball (about 1/3 cup)
and put on a floured surface to roll out.
Important: Do not overwork the dough. This is NOT bread dough. It shouldn’t be “kneaded.” The more you work it, the tougher it will become. The less you play with it, the more tender and flaky it will be.
If you are doing more than one crust, simply divide the dough into that number of balls and set aside all but one to roll out.
I like to use a heavy marble rolling pin to gently roll out the pie dough – working it as little as possible and turning over a few times to keep from sticking to the rolling pin and surface.
Lift it from the surface to your pie pan (I prefer baking stones) by folding it in quarters, placing in the pan,
then unfolding and pinching edges
and add filling.
For Rhubarb Custard Pie, I like to make a lattice crust, so simply roll out another ball of dough and cut into 8 strips.
Place 4 on the pie in one direction, then weave by lifting two alternating and place one the opposite direction, then lifting the other two, and repeating.
A finishing touch is to brush with some cream (or melted butter)
and sprinkle with sugar.
Lastly, cover the edges of the pie with strips of aluminum foil to prevent the edges from getting overbaked or burnt.
Bake and enjoy!
And with those leftover scraps of dough, Marty always loves with I brush them with a little cream or melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake into yummy cinnamon stick treats.
Hope you and yours will enjoy this pie as much as we do!
Cheers and Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 