Lulu and I spent the evening pulling weeds from our freshly laid sod. Despite the protestations of my father, I refuse to use weed-killer to rid our yard from the near constant presence of invasive vines and stubborn weeds. Instead, I take my daughter outside to play in the grass as I dirty my hands and pull the weeds out, one by one. I can spend a solid hour outside and make little noticeable progress…but my soul feels about a hundred times clearer (even though my yard is not).
Tonight, as I rooted through our blanket of sod to tear out the tiny vines that are choking the grass, I happened upon a lady bug village. They were crawling and pausing and eating. I watched them for a few minutes, and I relished how the simple act of pulling these stubborn weeds made me feel so alive. Here I was, with my daughter beside me, working our small patch of land. I’m no gardener (yet) but I can see why people find it to be the most therapeutic of hobbies. Just like baking, it reconnects me to the still, quiet part of my heart.
This blueberry sour cream pie was also therapy. After returning from Oregon and feeling a little homesick for a place I don’t call home, I needed to get into the kitchen. A fresh pint of organic blueberries along with a pound of hazelnuts had come home with me from the grocery store. A few hours later…this pie was made. Now my sweet husband eats a lot of pie. Because pie is my specialty. My dessert of choice. So when he declares that this blueberry sour cream pie is his absolute favorite, pay attention. He’s sampled quite a few contenders in his short thirty years.
Blueberry Sour Cream Pie
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
4 tablespoons (about) ice water
FILLING
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 egg, beaten to blend
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
TOPPING
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts
2 tablespoons sugar
FOR CRUST:
Blend flour, butter, sugar and salt in processor until coarse meal forms. With machine running, add water by tablespoonfuls until clumps form. Gather into ball. Flatten to disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out dough on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch glass pie plate (alternatively, you can use a tart pan with a removable bottom). Trim edge to 1/2-inch overhang. Fold edge under and crimp. Freeze 10 minutes. Line crust with foil; fill with beans or pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 12 minutes. Remove foil and beans.
FOR FILLING:
Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Mix in blueberries. Spoon into crust. Bake until filling is just set, about 25 minutes.
FOR TOPPING:
Using fingertips, mix flour and butter in medium bowl until small clumps form. Mix in hazelnuts and sugar. Spoon topping over pie. Bake until topping browns lightly, about 12 minutes. Cool pie to room temperature.
Baking is the best form of therapy for me. Gardening not so much but mostly because I tend to kill things in my garden 😛
I like weeding, strangely enough…it’s so therapeutic! And I bet is was fun just hanging with Lulu 🙂 I love the flavour of this pie…the sour cream addition is awesome!
Yummyy.. Blueberry and hazelnuts!! Just Wow… I just cant get enough of blueberry muffins.. & This pie looks and sounds incredible…. Love the addition of sour cream and hazelnuts in it… 😀
This is beautiful!! I know exactly what you mean about feeling homesick for a place you don’t call home– that happens to be often when we travel.
Our yard is full of weeds…but I kind of like it that way. 😉
This pie is stunning. I know what you mean about gardening. I find it therapeutic as well. Also, every little growing pepper and tomato feels like a kind of miracle. 🙂
Oh, this pie would cure anything! I love blueberries and this is a perfect use of them! Have a fun weekend!
your pie is a work of beauty! Phil LOVES blueberries, but I am so bad at making the crust, it’s always a huge ordeal for me….
but maybe… maybe I will give this one a try 😉
For this pie to be a favorite pie among your many creations, it’s saying to me, “Try me!” It looks perfect and I don’t doubt it would become a favorite around here, too.
One of the best therapies out there for sure!! Love the looks of this pie and can only imagine how amazing it tastes and smells 😉
What a beautiful pie! Blueberry and sour cream sounds like such a delectable combination. And as a garden person, I totally get it. One of the best things is just to go out and look at the garden, puttering optional (but frequent nonetheless). 🙂
Gardening is very therapeutic…I’ve been gardening since I was small, I can’t remember when I started. Unfortunately, I’m confined to indoor plants now, in my little city apartment….
The blueberry sour cream pie sound delicious!
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I love blueberry desserts! Most of my gardening is limited to pots, but we do have a blueberry and a raspberry bush. The blueberry bush really hasn’t taken off yet. My raspberries seem to be doing very well though. How do you think this would turn out with other berries?
You make weeding sound so therapeutic! I wish I shared your love for it! 🙂 This pie looks wonderful – I love how cooking up or baking a particular dish can bring one back to a particular place or time. 🙂
This is stunning! I love blueberries this time of year 🙂
We desperately need no sod, but I’m waiting till after these hot summer days!
You have convinced me to make this. Pie is my specialty too and the blueberry farm next door just opened (it’s self-picking). Lovely recipe. I cannot wait to try it. BTW, we just hired a lawn guy to kill our weeds. Doing ourselves we would never catch up. We have a vegetable garden in the back and flower garden in front and the weeds are taking over around here. I wish I felt like you and enjoyed pulling them.
Oh my goodness, this looks incredible. I love blueberry pie, preferably with a dollop of good ice cream. Delicious!
Monet, beautiful writing and a delicious looking pie – I personally adore pies too, especially blueberry pie. I have not made one with blueberries and sour cream before but I must admit that it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing another wonderful and feel good recipe!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend!
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of pulling weeds out of the yard with my Dad 🙂 It’s so much better than using fertiliser for so many reasons! This tart looks so delicious!
Making pie to cure some not-homesickness sounds like the perfect remedy. And what a lovely pie it is!!
Monet, this looks absolutely mouth-watering delicious! Such a gorgeous pie – and I’ll bet it tastes great too!
Just got round to checking out your site after you left a comment on mine. 🙂
Such a lovely warm writing style you have! And yes, cooking is like therapy sometimes! Xx
There is something about weeding that makes me feel calm. I’d much rather weed myself than spray poison on everything. Also, ladybugs are pretty awesome and so fun to watch! I just saw that blueberries were on sale and I keep meaning to go to the store and buy a bunch. This pie looks and sounds amazing!
What a magnificent looking pie! I just love the gorgeous blueberry flavour. I can imagine my dinner guests being pretty excited if I could pull something like this out for dessert. Saving this one for later!
I LOVE blueberry pie – all pie if I’m honest but blueberry is my favorite. I’ve never tried it with sour cream but I bet it’s perfection on a plate.
I know what you mean about pulling weeds and nurturing the good bugs. I feel the same way. Pesticides have their place I suppose but not in my garden. 🙂
This pie looks stunning! I can only imagine how amazing it tastes if your husband declared this his favorite 🙂 Love the hazelnut topping on this too!
How cool that you saw a lady bug village in your yard!!! They are good luck, so hopefully they’ll bring some awesomeness your way. This pie definitely looks amazing!
This flavor combination sounds out-of-this-world, what a great twist on a pie, can’t wait to try it (and I looooove the way you decorated the pie-so adorable!)
Monet, this looks amazing! Love the touch of almond extract and the hazelnut topping.
High praise indeed! I think I’d love this pie too.