Seeking Wisdom? Ask a Mom - She Carries Wisdom

Are you looking for wisdom?

It's that time of year again, when little girls thoughts turn to spring time, love and, uh, little boys. During those days, little girls often ask Mom for advice on how to catch a man. Most every mom I know has one secret recipe that they know without a doubt will capture the heart of any man. (At least any man they'd want.)

So, when asked, Mom's give their daughter's a favorite recipe - the secret recipe - to win the heart of their special love. Here's mine.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

For crust

3 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2/3 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into pieces
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
10 tablespoons (about) ice water

For filling

3 1/2 cups 1/2-inch-thick slices trimmed rhubarb (1 1/2 pounds untrimmed)
1 16-ounce container strawberries, hulled, halved (about 3 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg yolk beaten to blend with 1 teaspoon water (for glaze)

Make crust:

Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor. Using pulse action, cut in shortening and butter until coarse meal forms. Blend in almond extract and enough ice water 2 tablespoons at a time to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; cut in half. Flatten each half into disk. Wrap separately in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly at room temperature before rolling.)

Make filling:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Toss gently.
Roll out 1 dough disk on floured work surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie plate. Trim excess dough, leaving 3/4" overlap.

Roll out second dough disk on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Cut into fourteen 1/2-inch-wide strips. Spoon filling into crust. Arrange 7 dough strips atop filling, spacing evenly. Twist as you place each strip in place. Form lattice by placing remaining dough strips in opposite direction atop filling, twisting as you place them. Trim ends of dough strips even with overhang of bottom crust. Fold strip ends and overhang under, pressing to seal. Crimp edges decoratively.
Brush glaze over crust. transfer pie to baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Bake pie until golden and filling thickens, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Transfer pie to rack and cool completely.

Guaranteed, if there's a man out there worth having - he'll LOVE this pie!

Leave a comment and tell me what you favorite man catcher is.