Wisconsin, the Cranberry Capital

Never mind Ocean Spray's ad campaign. The state of Wisconsin produces the most cranberries, more than sixty percent of those grown in the US. Fresh cranberries have just appeared in stores here and will soon arrive where you are, if they haven't already. So you need to know about Cranberry Pie.

It's not a pie, that's first. About the only thing pie-like is that it's baked in a nine-inch pie plate. It's more like a quick bread, except not as sweet. It's also easier than many quick breads. 

Cranberry Pie

Cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups fresh cranberries
½ cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
½ cup butter, melted (1 stick)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. almond extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F/175C. Coat a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Stir in the cranberries and walnuts until coated. Stir in the butter, eggs and almond extract. Spread the batter into the pie pan.

Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

NOTE: A 12-ounce bag of cranberries is about three cups. You can make two of these pies at a time, dividing the three cups of cranberries between the two.