Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Headed to Maine | Blueberry Cheesecake Pie


We'll be leaving for a Maine vacation shortly and I'm very excited about it. I've never been there and it's a trip that's been on my bucket list. (So is Italy -- Tuscany, Naples, Amalfi, Palermo, I don't care. Soon.)

And is it just coincidental that in recent weeks a couple blogs I frequent wrote about their trips to Maine? Joy the Baker enjoyed a schooner trip (and lobster) and Karen at The Back Road Journal posted about Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park and Rockport.  And after I commented on Karen's blog, I heard from Linda, another Maine blogger, who gave me some great insider information.  If my appetite wasn't whetted before then, it sure is now.

And although the scenery is the biggest attraction, food comes in at a very close second.  And I don't think there's anyplace that has two foods more synonymous with its name than lobster and blueberries, is there?

I don't have lobster very often so I'm anxious to wrestle a couple. Blueberries I get plenty of, since we have 10 bushes of our own. I know Maine blueberries are different: they're wild, low bush berries, mine are the cultivated, high bush. Supposedly Maine berries are sweeter, but I'll reserve judgment, since I like my own pretty darn well.

In the meantime, if I wasn't ready already, this pie helped put me more in the Maine frame of mind. I made  pie filling with my frozen berries and it was just great. I make a pretty darn good traditional cheesecake, if I do say so myself,  but this pie is less cheesecake, more blueberry and it's a very nice change of pace from my usual blueberry sauce topped cheesecake.  Would it be any different with Maine blueberries?

Blueberry Cheesecake Pie
makes about 10 servings
adapted from Eagle Brand

1 recipe blueberry pie filling (see below)
1 unbaked pie shell -- your own pastry or purchased
1 8 ounce brick of cream cheese, softened
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Combine 1 cup of the blueberry pie filling (reserve the rest for topping) and pour into the pie crust.  Bake 15 minutes.

In a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy.  With motor running, gradually pour in the sweetened condensed milk, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla.  Pour into partially baked pie.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and bake an additional 25 minutes or until set.  Cool. Chill. Spoon the remaining blueberry filling over sliced pieces as you serve them.

Blueberry Pie Filling
adapted from food.com
2 pints (4 cups) blueberries, fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon lemon rind
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Combine 1 cup berries with 3/4 cup sugar in pan on stove. Simmer on low heat until sugar is melted and mixture is very liquid, about 5 minutes.  Combine cornstarch and water in a bowl and then add to the pan with the blueberries.  Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a full boil and is clear and thick. Pour hot mixture into a large bowl and let cool until warm.  Fold in the remaining 3 cups of blueberries, lemon rind  seasoning s and butter. Let cool before adding to pie crust or using in the cheesecake pie recipe above.

35 comments:

  1. This is an absolutely gorgeous pie. My mother used to spend every summer in Maine with her family. Unfortunately, I have only heard stories of its greatness and haven't made it there myself yet. Eat some lobsta for me!

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    1. Have no doubt . . . and I hear that lobster prices are way down. I've never cooked a whole lobster before, only tail. I'm hoping the rest of my group will be up for staying in a place with a kitchen. All we need is a big pot, right?

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  2. Have a great time! I've never been to Maine. I'd never been to New England until four years ago when our younger son became engaged to a young woman from Massachusetts. She did her undergrad at Bates in Maine. We've now made five trips to N.E. spending most of our time in Rhode Island. Love the area. Take lots of notes as I'll want some recommendations for when we do get to that great state.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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    1. Some friends, veteran Maine travelers, shared a whole box of annotated information we've been wading through. There's nothing like personal recommendations.

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  3. Hello! The pie looks lovely. Everyone in their right mind loves cheesecake, and with blueberries even more, what's there not to like? :)

    Have fun on your vacation in Maine! :)

    All the best,
    Miriam.

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    1. I do happen to have a friends who doesn't like cheesecake. I think she's nuts. (But she is thin!)

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  4. Just beautiful! How very cool that your grow your own blueberries! Have a wonderful vacation.

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    1. It's great having our own berries, Susan, but I'm going to have to protect them better from the birds next year.

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  5. I hope you have a wonderful vacation my friend :D
    And your cheesecake pie looks pretty exquisite!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    Replies
    1. I know we'll have a good time. I'll share pieces. Thanks, CCU buddy!

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  6. Blueberry is still my favourite fruit pie of all time.

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    1. For me -- at least as far as fruit pies go, -- it's a dead heat with cherries; I'm talking real cherries, not the canned stuff.

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  7. Your blueberry pie looks beautiful. My daughter lived in Boston for 4 years. I asked her if there was a difference in taste but she had no idea. I guess you'll find out soon and can share it with us. Apparently though they are superior.

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    1. Yes, Vicki, supposedly, those teeny tiny guys pack a lot of flavor. I think they must be like what we call wild huckleberries around here.

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  8. What a wonderful combination, Rosemary. This really sounds delicious. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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    1. Thanks, Mary . . I hope you're having a beautiful day out there. It's the beginning of a lovely early fall day here.

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  9. blueberry pie looks delicious. and i asked my wief to prepare it on this weekend for the whole family.

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  10. Love blueberry desserts. This looks heavenly!

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  11. Mmmm! I'm a big fan of 'more blueberry'...can't go wrong with that. Can I mention how jealous I am that you have your own blueberry bush! Swoon :)

    I hope you have a brilliant holiday!

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    1. Next year, I'll be an even better blueberry gardener. (I hope.) And the trip was really wonderful.

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  12. Hope you are enjoying your trip to Maine at the moment. Your blueberry cheesecake looks wonderful. I think I'll have to start growing my own to avoid having to take out a mortgage to buy these lovely berries though.

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    1. I am lucky to have them . . . and so are the birds. I have a stash in the freezer ready for the next cheesecake. (The trip to Maine was glorious! We were blessed with great weather and what scenery. Will be sharing more.)

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  13. Rosemary, I've never been to Maine either, but I am sure that it is absolutely gorgeous, especially right now with the color of the leaves changing! I hope that you enjoy. I'm going to several of the places in Italy on your bucket list in 2 weeks and will share some posts from there as I go along during my trip. Hope you can join me!

    This blueberry cheesecake looks especially luscious too!

    Ciao,
    Roz

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    1. Maine was great . . . but Italy is still on my list and I hope to get there, too. Be anxious for your posts!

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  14. Rosemary...I hope you have an absolutely wonderful trip! I'm originally from New England but haven't been to Maine for a really long time! The last I was there was in the month of August and I just remember the lakes being to cold to swim in! And I still have this really pretty clock that I bought in a little store in Rockport. I bet you'll enjoy some pretty fabulous food! Looking forward to hearing all about it! In the meantime...I'll just have to drool over your luscious cheesecake! (And I really LOVE that plate!) Safe travels! : )

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    1. We did have some great food, Anne. My favorite was the lobster mac 'n cheese. The sauce was white cheddar. Rockport was lovely but too brief a visit. And Camden. And Bar Harbor. Acadia. All. Could have stayed a month!

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  15. What a gorgeous cheesecake, so pretty on the blue plate. Maine must be beautiful this time of year. I could get lost in their antique shops and never return.
    Sam

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    1. I'm anxious to return already . . . and I just got back!

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  16. Anything made with blueberries is going to be a favorite of mine. Thanks for the mention in this post.

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    1. I agree . . . I love blueberries in anything or all by themselves.

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  17. this is gorgeous, Rosemary! the picture is lovely and all i want is to eat the whole thing right now.

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    1. It was good, not quite as rich as my usual cheesecake, making it too easy to eat too much!

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I realize you don't have to take the time to comment . . . but it makes my day! So glad you decided to stay.