Grape Pie!

My family has a grape arbor in their yard. It is covered with Concord Grape vines that are close to ninety years old. They aren't the healthiest vines in the world, but they're still alive and still producing grapes. To their credit, no one really tends them, so they're sort of on their own. Still, they usually manage enough grapes each year for a batch of jelly or juice or a pie or two.

Pies are my favorite.

Yes, I said Grape Pie.

It's not the best known pie in town, but it may be the best tasting. While Blueberry Pie and Cherry Pie and Peach Pie top the popularity charts, they by no means trump the flavor of Grape.

The process is somewhat strange. The grapes are "peeled" before the filling is made. Peeling in this case entails squeezing the pulpy center out of the skin.

The centers look a bit like frogs' eggs, especially when you've collected several cups of them in a bowl.

But don't throw away the skins! The skins will be added back into the filling and are what will give the filling it's beautiful reddish purple color.

GRAPE PIE RECIPE

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.

4 cups Concord (or other purple) Grapes

Slip the grapes out of their skins, reserving skins. Cook pulp in a saucepan over medium heat on stovetop until seeds loosen. Press through sieve or colander to remove seeds. Combine the pulp, the reserved SKINS, and

3/4 cup Sugar
1 1/4 T Lemon Juice
1 T grated Orange Rind
1 T quick-cook Tapioca

Let stand for 15 minutes.

While waiting for filling, prepare your favorite pie crust recipe. I use a two crust recipe. Fill the pie shell with grape mixture and form a lattice or upper crust (be sure to cut vents in top crust if not using lattice). Bake pie for 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then lower heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes until crust is lightly browned and filling bubbles and thickens.

If filling appear too thin, you might need to cover the edges of the pie crust with foil to prevent over-baking.

Enjoy carefully! Although the color of the pie filling is beautiful it will temporarily stain teeth.