Valentine’s Day cherry pie

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Make him a delicious pie for Valentine’s Day.

This pie is quick and easy – and delicious! Make 2 or 3 and freeze what you don’t eat.

You need an 18cm x 18cm (7in x 7in) heart-shaped pie dish plus a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Ingredients:

Ready-made short crust pastry
Icing (confectioner’s) sugar to sprinkle on top
2 tablespoons butter

Filling
425g (14 oz) can pitted cherries, drained thoroughly
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 teaspoons cornflour (cornstarch)
2 tablespoons brown sugar (more if using sour cherries)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200deg C (400deg F). Grease pie dish with butter.

2. Mix all filling ingredients and set aside.

3. Roll out the pastry and roughly cut a heart shape slightly bigger than the pie dish. Line the dish, allowing the pastry to hang over the edges.

4. Roll out more pastry and cut another heart shape, a little smaller than the first, to fit the top of the pie. Use the cookie cutter to cut a heart shape in the centre.

5. Spoon the filling into the lined pie dish. Dot with 2 tablespoons butter. Brush the rim of the pastry with water, then place the top pastry crust over it. Press the rims so the pastry seals.

6. Use a knife to cut around the dish to cut off excess pastry. Press the rims with the tines of a fork.

7. Bake in oven for 20 minutes. Reduce temperature to 180deg C (350deg F) and bake for another 10 minutes, or until golden brown.

8. Remove from oven, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with ice cream.

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