Nopalito Pie

Description
Also known as Cactus Pie

Ingredients

 * 8 fresh cactus pieces, paddles with thorns and eyes removed and tough edges sliced off, diced
 * 1 pastry for double-crust pie, 9 inch (either your favorite recipe or frozen pre-made pie crusts)
 * 1 cup sugar
 * 3 tablespoons flour
 * ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
 * 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
 * 1 slice fruit of prickly pear cactus (optional)

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
 * 2) Parboil cactus for 3 minutes in enough boiling, lightly salted water to cover in a covered saucepan.
 * 3) Drain and rinse under running water.
 * 4) Roll half of pastry to ⅛-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
 * 5) Place in a 9-inch pie plate; trim off excess pastry along edges and set to the side.
 * 6) Combine cactus dice (nopalitos) and next three ingredients; mix well by hand.
 * 7) Spoon filling evenly into pastry shell, and dot with butter.
 * 8) Roll remaining pastry to ⅛-inch thickness; cut into ½-inch strips and arrange into lattice;
 * 9) Fold edges under and flute into a pretty edge.
 * 10) Bake for 50 – 60 minutes.
 * 11) Garnish with slice of prickly pear fruit, if desired.