Cheery Cherry Pie

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3/4 cup ice water
• 1 teaspoon vinegar ( or cider)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 3 tablespoons splenda sugar substitute
• 7 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans tart red cherries, in water, drained, reserve liquid
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2/3 cup splenda sugar substitute
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 -4 drops red food coloring (optional)

Recipe

• 1 crust.
• 2 mix ice water and vinegar in a cup.
• 3 place 1/2 cup of flour in bowl and grandually add water & vinegar mixture; mixing well with a wire whisk.
• 4 in another bowl, combine remaining flour and splenda; add shortening and mix with pastry cutter or two knives until mixture is crumbly (but still binding together).
• 5 divide dough in half and gently pat each half into a circle on a floured work surface.
• 6 cover each circle with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• 7 filling.
• 8 drain the reserved cherry liquid through sieve into a medium saucepan.
• 9 mix cornstarch and splenda together in a small bowl and gradually pour into saucepan, stirring well.
• 10 add almond extract and lemon juice and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• 11 simmer 3-4 minutes to thicken sauce and remove from heat.
• 12 add 3-4 drops of food coloring (if desired).
• 13 put cherries in a medium bowl and pour liquid on top, gently folding with spatula or wooden spoon (careful not to crush cherries) then set aside.
• 14 turn oven on to 375 degrees and spray a 9" pie pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
• 15 roll out 1 circle of dough on a floured surface to 11" in diameter.
• 16 place in prepared pie pan.
• 17 place filling in the crust.
• 18 roll out the other circle of dough to 10" in diameter and place on top of filling.
• 19 crimp and seal edges with fingertips or a fork.
• 20 prick the top of crust to allow steam to escape.
• 21 brush crust with milk for golden browning.
• 22 bake for 50-60 minutes or until filling bubbles and crust is golden.
• 23 cool for 1 hour before serving.