Attack of the Giant Hogweed and the Best Summer Pie Ever

This past Fourth of July was a good one for many reasons – one of them being a new gastric delight I created and devoured. I like to call it summerburst pie because it has all of my favorite flavors of summer in it; fresh local raspberries and bing and rainier cherries (but you can use any fresh sweet cherry) and California peaches (Washington peaches are not quite ripe yet). This concoction has risen to the top of my all time greatest pies list. Absolutely divine! However, Summerburst pie was not the only memorable thing that took place last week……

This past week was to be my week of alone time (not counting the hard working Lieutenant); The Fourth was over and I was going to catch up on my work, catch up with my friends, paint the goat villa, and perhaps fold my 17 loads of laundry eagerly awaiting me. This was because, miracle of miracles, all of the kids were going to be gone at the same time; an event that has never occurred in my lifetime. Miss G. at her internship at the Duke University Lemur Center, Mr. D. at high school leadership camp & Coco at our Presbyterian Church Camp a couple of hours away over the mountains in Eastern Washington. Alas, it was not to be and all because of the Giant Hogweed, an extremely toxic plant no one around here has ever heard of. On her first full day of camp, Coco fell off a log onto a Giant Hogweed. Later that day her ankle was swollen and spots appeared on her body which grew and blistered. Initially, insects were suspected, but ruled out…The next day, it was deduced that it had to be a plant that did it. She was taken to the doctor in the nearest town who spoke to the weed people in New York state (who are the giant hogweed experts) about it. The sap of the giant hogweed contains photosensitizing furanocoumarins (no, I don’t know what that means), so when it contacts human skin in conjunction with sunlight, it can cause phytophotodermatitis.  Ugh!!! Coco was prescribed steroid cream & ordered to stay out of the sun for 48 hours. The no sun edict, large oozing blisters, and very swollen ankle ruled out staying at camp. So, on day 2 of the week alone, I was alone no more.

Coco is healing up well now, but I think we will always remember the Giant Hogweed incident and I think my family will always remember Summerburst pie (and beg me for it!)

Summerburst Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 recipe pie crust
• 2 1/2 cups fresh, pitted (& I cut in half) sweet cherries (I used half rainier and half bing)
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 2 large peaches, peeled and cut into medium chunks
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 or 3 T. butter, cut into chunks

Cooking Directions:

1. Roll out bottom crust to fit a 9 inch pie pan.
2. In separate bowl, mix together cherries, raspberries, peaches, sugar and flour.
3. Pour mixture onto bottom crust and spread out evenly. Dot with the butter chunks.
4. Roll out top crust and place it over the pie. Crimp the edges together and poke the top crust to allow for venting.
5. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 and bake for 30 to 45 more minutes.
6. Pie is done when crust is golden and the juice is vigorously boiling and seeping out the top.