Grandma's Blueberry Pie

I am just so thrilled that we have another Country Cook friend joining us in the kitchen again this week.

Our next reader-submitted recipe is from Gail (Sweitzer) Smith from Memphis, TN.

When I sent out the call to all you amazing cooks, Gail was among the first to submit her recipe.  I was so happy to see she was sharing a recipe that has been in her family for years.

There is just something so special about a dish that was made by your Grandma or Great Grandma and everyone thought is was so special that they knew they had to pass it on to future generations.  This next recipe is no exception to that rule.

Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Gail.

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My name is Gail (Sweitzer) Smith. I am 48yrs young and divorced with no children.  I moved back home in 2000 when going through a divorce. I have been unemployed since 2007 and not being able to find work, I am at home helping Dad take care of Mom so he can work a few days and few hours a week. They are both in their late 70's.  

I have an older sister and brother-in-law and a younger brother. 

I also have 2 BEAUTIFUL nieces (21 and 25 yrs).

 I love to cook and bake . I love trying new recipes. I have been trying recipes for bread and rolls with yeast lately.

I have lived in Memphis all my life . I grew up in the city but in a neighborhood where the neighbors watched out for each other and the adults would get on to you if you were doing wrong even if you were not their kid.   My mom is from a small town called Hickory Flat, Ms. And my Dad is from York, Pa.  My maternal grandma died before my parents met and grandpa died when I was 1 1/2 yrs. We took vacations to see my paternal grandparents in York every summer and they would visit us.  When visiting in York, we would travel to the nearby Amish communities in Lancaster, PA. and enjoyed eating at Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants.  Grandpa died in 1971. Grandma died in 2001 at the WONDERFUL age of 98 yrs and 2 weeks. My parents met thru Mom's sister Dorothy and Aunt Dorothy's sis-in-law Sarah who's boyfreind (husband) Joe who was stationed in the Army with Dad in Germany. Mom and Dad "dated" thru letters until he was discharged and they married in 1955.

This Blueberry Pie is my Grandma's recipe.  I do not know where she got it from. She would always have one made when we visited. One year I was coming for a visit with Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Edd (my Mom's sis and husband) on a trip to New England. Grandma had not been feeling well but LOVED me (all of us grandkids) so much she HAD to make a Blueberry Pie. So instead of traditional pie crust, she used a graham cracker crust. The juice from the pie made it gooey like toffee. Grandma lived in a 3 story + basement row house she grew up in and moved back in with Grandpa and 3 boys and 1 daughter to take care of her elderly parents. She lived there alone for several years until her health made it so she had to move to a nursing home. Dad and I keep blueberries in the freezer so we have them on hand to bake a blueberry pie. 

Grandma's Blueberry Pie

1 Quart Blueberries

3/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp Lemon juice

3 Tbsp quick tapioca

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup brown sugar

2Tbsp butter

9 inch pie crust  (if frozen, let thaw)

Rinse and check blueberries for any bad or bruised berries. Mix ingredients except butter and brown sugar. Let mixture set for about 15 mins (or until pie crust is made if using homemade). Fill pie crust with berry mixture and dot with pats of butter and sprinkle brown sugar on top.

Make Crumb Topping:

1/2 c Flour

1/4 c Sugar

1/4 c Butter

Mix with pastry cutter or 2 knives until crumbly. Top pie with Crumb topping. Bake at 375F degrees for 30 to 40 min.

 I hope you enjoy my Grandma's (Kathryn Sweitzer) blueberry pie recipe!!

One cause dear to our hearts is EPILEPSY . My youngest niece was diagnosed in Jan 2010. The doctors are continuing to try to get Medication to control her seizures. WE wear PURPLE with LOVE for her. We pray for a cure!! It is hard to see a loved not be able to drive or make plans with family and friends to have to cancel due to a seizure.

For more information on epilepsy awareness, please visit the 

Epilesy Awareness facebook page HERE.

Gail
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A special thank you to Gail for sharing such a special recipe with us today!


And thank you for sharing a cause that is near and dear to your heart and bringing it to our attention. My prayers are with your niece and I pray that a cure is found.


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Enjoy!

Printable Recipe Here