OK, it’s time for a cup of joe and a donut.

One of the most original and interesting tv shows was the 1990s series Twin Peaks, and it has developed a bit of a cult following. The show was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, and initially centered on solving the murder of a teenage girl, Laura Palmer, in a quiet Northwestern logging town called Twin Peaks. But though the series focused on Laura’s death, the show was compelling because it highlighted the interactions between the interesting and eccentric characters, exposed seedy events infusing the town and environs — complete with paranormal undertones. Basically the series explored the mystery of life, the mystery of death, and the mystery of the woods surrounding Twin Peaks.

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Although the first and second seasons have been available in DVD format for a while now, the critical pilot episode was not included in these previous editions. However, you can now get the complete series of Twin Peaks — the pilot episode plus seasons one and two — with Twin Peaks – The Definitive Gold Box Edition.

The DVD collection also includes noteworthy additions such as international versions of the pilot, an interview with David Lynch, Log Lady introductions for each episode, the “Falling” music video featuring Julee Cruise, Japanese Georgia Coffee commercials, the “Saturday Night Live” opening monologue and “Twin Peaks” sketch featuring Kyle MacLachlan, and behind the scenes pictures.

One of the characters, Special Agent Dale Cooper, had a particular fondness for pie — “Diane, if you ever get up this way that cherry pie is worth a stop” — and in that spirit, here is my version of Twin Peaks Cherry Pie:

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Kendall’s Twin Peaks Cherry Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie

CRUST:
1.5 c cold butter, cut into small cubes
4 c flour
4 eggs
1 t salt

Make a dough from the above ingredients. Shape into a ball, wrap in wax paper, and put into refrigerator overnight. This recipe makes enough for two crusts — a bottom and a top.

Divide the dough into two — return one half to refrigerator. Roll out the other half into a circle a few inches in diameter larger than the diameter of the pie pan. Line the pie pan with the crust, pressing the dough into the bottom and sides — leave the excess hanging over the sides. Refrigerate while making the sauce.

SAUCE:
2 16-ounce bags of frozen pitted cherries (probably 3 12-ounce bags would be better) or about six cups of fresh pitted cherries
.5-.75 c + 1 T sugar
.25 c water
3 T cornstarch
2 T lime juice

1 egg + pinch of salt for egg wash

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a saucepan, combine the thawed cherries, sugar (all except 1 T), and water. Heat, covered, over medium heat, until the cherries release their liquid. Strain the cherries over a bowl, then return the liquid to the saucepan. Adjust sugar to taste.

Dissolve the cornstarch in a bowl with the lime juice. Stir into the cherry juice. Heat to boiling, stirring with a wire whisk until clear — about a minute or two. The sauce should be thickened at this point. Cool.

Pour the cherries and sauce into the bottom crust in the pie pan. Roll out the remaining half of the dough as you did for the bottom crust. Place on the crust on top of the pie, aligning with the bottom crust. Trim the crusts about an inch larger than the diameter of the pie pan, and press the edges of the two crusts together to seal. Fold the edges of the crust under, then flute decoratively around the rim.

Make an egg wash by beating one egg with a pinch of salt. Brush the top and edge of the pie with the egg wash. Sprinkle the top of the pie with the reserved 1 T (or so) of sugar. Cut five slits into the top of the crust.

Bake for about one hour, or until you see steam/juices escaping from the slits and the top is browned. Cool on a rack.

Folks interested in learning more about Twin Peaks may like the annual Twin Peaks Fest, as well as websites for Kyle MacLachlan (Special Agent Dale Cooper): http://www.kylemaclachlan.com/, and Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne): http://www.sherilynshines.blogspot.com/.

Enjoy!

Twin Peaks – The Definitive Gold Box Edition, available from Amazon.

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