Pie for my Guy: Fried Cherry Pies

Fried Pies!!!  Where have you been all my life?

 (This is the 2nd month of Pie for my Guy.  Last month's pie is here.)

If you see Mr. E and me at any 4th of July gathering, we'll be toting along some fried pies and leaving quickly.  Why?  Well, it seems we've become Mr. & Mrs. Socially Awkward. 

Take the last party we attended.  Me?  I'm *always* socially awkward.  I ran into this woman at the party...I'd been introduced to her before, but had forgotten her name.  Deciding to be a grown-up, I asked her.  And then proceeded to mispronounce her name.  Twice.  In a row.  I just couldn't get it.  Embarrassed, I ended up saying, "well, it's great seeing you again," and high-tailed it to the bar.

Mr. E is a different story; he's always at ease and can talk to anyone.  In other words, we balance each other out. At this party, however, he was not so cool.  We were gathered on our friends' patio.  It's a circular patio in the middle of the yard...surrounded by huge, lush ferns and raised about a foot or two above the ground, with a fire pit in the middle. 

Now, we all know how chilly Houston evenings get *cough*, so the fire was blazing...not just contained to the pit, but flames shooting 5 feet in the air.  My make-up was melting, everyone was sweating...and I see Mr. E across the patio.  He's chatting with a nice lady...and I notice him sloooowly inching his chair back away from the fire.  Away from the fire and right over BACKWARDS into the ferns and greenery.  I'm serious.  It happened in slow-motion...EVERYONE stopped talking and watched as he fell.  Flat on his back, legs straight in the air.

*Side note: he kept his beer upright.*

So yeah...invite us to your party.  We'll drop the pies and leave.  On second thought, maybe we'll just keep the pies and stay home.  For everyone's sake.

Whether you have a cute little pie mold like this one...

....or not, PLEASE, I beg you.  Fry some pies!!!  Ree has a post on making them without a mold.  That's how pioneer women do it. ;)

Fried Cherry Pies

(makes 8)

3 cups pitted, halved sweet cherries
1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup water, divided

1 TBSP lemon juice

1 TBSP cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

double pie crust (I used Pillsbury)

flour for dusting

egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water

oil for frying (I used grapeseed)

make the filling:

In a saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, 1/8 cup of the water, and lemon juice.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Combine the remaining water and the cornstarch.  Add to the filling, return to a boil, and cook for 1 minute or until thickened.  Remove from heat and add the vanilla.

Set aside to cool. 

On a floured surface, roll out the pie to to 1/8-1/16" thickness.  Cut into shapes.  

Place 1 TBSP in the middle of one cut-out.  Brush the edges with egg wash and top with another cut out.  Crimp edges to seal.  

Freeze the pies for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat oil for frying in a large fry pan or dutch oven to 350.  Add the pies, and fry for 4-8 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden.  Drain on paper towels.

Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve. 

I could. not. stop. taking pictures of the insides of these babies.

That cherry filling....oh, it's so beautiful and delicious.  You'll have lots of extra for topping ice cream, cheesecake, yogurt...rice cakes?  Whatever.  It'll be good.

Armed with fried pies, we will never be socially awkward again.
Maybe.