Depression-Era Water Pie with a Twist

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 9” pie crust (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup sugar (white or brown, I used brown today)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or other flavoring, I used 1 tablespoon for extra flavor)
• 5 tablespoons butter, cut into pats
• Chopped pecans (optional, my extra kick)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pie Crust:
   • Pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the 9” pie crust.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
   • In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of flour.
   • Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the water in the pie crust. Do not mix.

1. Add Flavoring:
   • Drizzle 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract over the pie. I used 1 tablespoon for extra flavor. Again, do not mix.

1. Add Butter:
   • Cut 5 tablespoons of butter into pats and place them on top of the pie. They will float.

1. Add Pecans (Optional):
   • For an extra kick, chop up some pecans and sprinkle them on top.

1. Bake the Pie:
   • Preheat your oven to 400°F and bake the pie for 30 minutes.
   • Reduce the temperature to 375°F and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes.
   • 
2. Cool and Serve:
   • Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely before cutting and serving.
   • Note: I placed a ring around the crust after the first 30 minutes to prevent it from getting too brown.

Notes:

• The original recipe calls for white sugar and no extras like pecans, but I enjoy experimenting.
• This pie is a great alternative to the more complicated traditional pecan pie, especially when you may not have all the ingredients on hand.
• The hardest part was waiting for it to cool! It was sooo good!

Enjoy your delicious and unique twist on the classic Depression-era water pie