Easy 4th of July Dessert ~ Patriotic Hand Pies

June 29, 2013

I love to embarrass my children.

I think it’s just a parent’s prerogative, don’t you? After the public tempter tantrums, being vomited on, diaper explosions while on an airplane, begging for them to go #2 in the potty, having them tell your neighbors that you are adding lattice to the deck so that you can get some privacy from said neighbors and all of the other mortifying things they have said/done in front of other people, it’s about time that we get to mortify them. Can I get an amen?

One of my favorite ways to do this is to sing very loudly…sometimes opera style…at home…in the car…occasionally in a store. Or dance…like a lunatic. And this is one of my MOST favorite times of the year to do this because I always feel particularly patriotic. So when you least expect it I will belt out “God Bless America” or “They’re Coming to America” or “The Star Spangled Banner” or my personal favorite, James Brown’s “Living in America”.

Oh, they just LOVE it! 😉

But, I try to make it up to them by keeping the supply of summertime treats flowing and never is that more true than on the 4th of July.

This year I’m making hand pies. Because you have to have one hand free to wave around a sparkler, right?

Now, stay with me here ’cause it’s gonna get tricky while I show you how to make these.

First, you go to the grocery store and buy refrigerated pie crusts and a can of your pie filing of choice. Got that part?

Then you roll out your pie crust and cut out circles using the only thing you can think of which will probably end up being a salad plate. Is it getting too complicated yet? 😉

Then you put a glob of the pie filling the middle of your salad plate cut out pie crust. Not too much glob though, mind you? You don’t want that glob leaking out of your hand pie.

Fold the crust in half and crimp the edges. Don’t forget to brush a nice egg wash (one egg beaten with a tablespoon of water) over the top for that perfect golden color. Bake the pies at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

Then, just for kicks, you could cut star shapes out of the extra pie crust to decorate the top of your hand pies.

I thought it would be fun to make an American flag too. I’ll let you be the judge as to how successful that little moment of creative “genius” was.

We told the kids that if they ate the American flag they would have to sing “The Star Spangled Banner”.

Of course, they didn’t want to do it.

So, I had to do it instead.

Loudly…with conviction…and a little fake vibrato. I might have also been holding my hand over my heart while I sang. And closing my eyes…and swaying back and forth a bit.

They just LOVE it when I do that! 😉

The 4th of July is truly one of my most favorite days of the year. Not just because we get to spend it with amazing friends, eat awesome food and sit in lawn chairs watching things ‘blow up’ in the street.

Those things are great but that’s not really why it is one of my most favorite days.

I love this day because of how it makes me feel inside. It’s such a unifying day. American flags are waving from homes all up and down our street. We hang out on our front porches or driveways or sidewalks and get to know our neighbors a bit better. This day makes me stop and think about all of the sacrifices which were made by the men and women who founded this country.

And now…oh boy…I feel another song coming on…wait…I need to go grab my kids!

“And, I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA!”

I’m not embarrassing you, am I? 😉

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