rkingfish's Full Review: Lucky Leaf Cherry Pie Filling
It’s summer here in the land of the wild blueberry. So why am I baking a cherry pie? Has Washington’s birthday been moved due to that whole generic President’s Day flap? Could it be that we’re just tired of Strawberry Rhubarb for the time being? In lieu of the soon-due blueberry slew, cherry pie tonight will suffice quite nicely.
Lucky Charms... Lucky Leaf... whatever . . .
Perhaps if I were indeed one of the magical “little people”, or a suburban Samantha Stevens, I could conjure-up a succulent dessert that would enable my summertime laziness. Truth be told, I would much rather watch scantily-clad folks frolic on the lake outside my office window than slave over a hot stove for a couple of hours. Summers are short here and my plastic kayak keeps calling me out for a spin.
Damn you, King Arthur!
This whole dessert dilemma began when I received my Baker’s Catalogue catalog in today’s mail. A recipe for “George Washington’s Favorite Pie” is included; though it’s a from scratch recipe that looks to require more effort than the first Continental Congress.
Fudging the Founding Father’s Favorite . . .
Lately, dessert is my bailiwick. Freeloading Internet access from my oldest brother really works up an appetite, so I try to make myself useful out of appreciation. As a super pre-supper shortcut, I’ve met the King’s aforementioned recipe halfway by mixing the unsweetened German cherries called for with a convenient 21-ounce can of Lucky Leaf Cherry Pie Filling or Topping. A touch of cinnamon, a splash of lemon extract and a fifty-minute stay in a hot oven and we’re ready for a hunk of this lattice-laced lovely; conservatively topped with a liberal dollop of freshly whipped cream.
Serving-up dah cherry bomb . . .
Imagine our jubilee when this experiment exceeded all expectations. The (modified) corn starch worked to thicken the overall filling mixture (combined with some quick-cooking tapioca) as it baked. The inclusion of High Fructose Corn Syrup allowed me to minimize the original recipe’s surplus of additional sugar. Even though this cheap and unhealthy ingredient is condemned by nutritionists worldwide, my summer laziness over-rode all such concern. I threw a couple pats of butter and a tablespoon of rum in there just to embrace the magnitude of my shocking and irresponsibly decadent behavior.
Lattice construct a tender crust . . .
Though the Lucky Leaf label cares not a wit about your choice of crumby shell, they do include a one-sentence pie recipe. Simply prepare crust, pour in said can of filling and bake at 425 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes and Voila! (pardon my French...). Also included on the label is a formula for Cherry Coffee Cake.
Whatever way you slice it . . .
Nutritionally, there’s not a whole lot happening in the land of Lucky Leaf. Aside from 25g of total carbohydrate per serving, 10% of your RDA of vitamin C and 8% of vitamin A appear amongst a nest stuffed with fat and cholesterol goose-eggs. A full 19g of sugar per serving presents the second nutritional red-flag - aside from Red # 40; which, fortunately, is one of the few artificial colors I am not (yet) allergic to. An Epinions two-star deduction in regard to the use of assorted inferior ingredients and a high price tag ($2.99 US) for the 1 lb, 5 oz. can.
Why Pie?
Despite the flaws, tonight’s pie population approved of a healthy dose of Lucky Leaf between the crusts. Due to my good fortune, I got Lucky (for any pie is better than no pie at all), which allowed me to be a lazy lake lizard - basking in the glorious summer sun. Tomorrow will be just like today - only with the pleasure of wolfing leftover cherry pie as a prelude to the superior native blueberry variety.
Could it be said that Lucky Leaf Cherry Pie Filling or Topping is this short-cut pie-baker’s Lucky Charm?
My thanks to the Epinions database for posting in error a box of Lucky Charms at the top of this review link, rather than a tube of Lucky Chick Mimosa Jasmine & Violet Body Butter.
“Pasturized for your safety. Refrigerate after opening. This product is pitted mechanically and may contain occasional pits.”
Distributed by Knouse Foods, Inc.
Peach Glen, Pennsylvania 17375
knouse.com
Lucky Leaf® Cherry Pie Filling All you need to do is buy a pie crust and cover from the store, add the pie filling of your choice, bake at 300-325 d...More at Cajun Supermarket
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