Cherry Dream Pie

I worked on this one mainly to write down the recipe for purposes of taking away PIETOPIA. It was a remarkably nice way to end an exceptionally hot (95 degrees) day in Portland. I am a little wilted flower who needs pie to thrive. Recipe and instructions to come soon. Napping with cold washcloth on my head takes presidence.

Cherry Dream Pie
Serves 8

Vegan Pate Brisee

1 1/4c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c earth balance
2-3 tbsp ice water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bow. Cut Earth Balance into small pieces and place in center of dry ingredients. Mix with stand mixer for 2 minutes and add cold water as needed. Mix until a ball of dough is formed—not longer. Place dough on a floured surface, reserving a handful (about 1/2 c) to use for topping. Roll out dough to a 1/4” tall and lay into a pie pan. Press indents into top of pan if you like the scalloped-edge look. Repair any tares that may have occurred while placing dough into pan. Save any scraps of dough from trimming/repairing for the topping. Prick dough with tines of fork to allow the crust to bake evenly. Par Bake for 10-12 minutes, until crust is just golden brown.

Cream Cheese Filling
1/2 c tofutti “cream cheese”
1/4 c tofutti “sour cream”
1/2 tsp vanilla

Whisk all ingredients until combined. Reserve for later assembly of pie.

Strawberry Filling
3 c chopped and hulled Bing cherries
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsps water (stir this in a little cup until fully dissolved)

Stir all ingredients into a large bowl for final assembly of pie.

Crumble Topping
Reserved 1/2 c dough, plus any other scraps
1/2 c oats
1/4 c brown sugar

With fingertips, squeeze all ingredients into little pea-sized pieces. Mixture will resemble loose cookie dough. Don’t fuss over this part too much; just mix until a crumbly yummy looking sandy mess is created.

Assembly:
Preheat oven 375 degrees
When pate brisee has come out of the oven a cooled slightly, slather the mock cream cheese as the base layer. Add the sugary cherry mixture next. Finally, sprinkle on the crumble mixture to the top of the cherries. Place the pie on top of a baking pan (sometimes the pie juices drizzle) and bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow pie to cool (if you can) for an hour and enjoy the ridiculous oozing strawberry dreaminess. Very good for breakfast the next day.