Fake Apple Pie

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups boiling water

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

zest of one lemon

2 cups granulated sugar

36 Ritz crackers, each broken in quarters

pastry for two-crust 9" pie

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out half the pastry and line a 9" pie plate. Place broken crackers in prepared crust; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine water, cream of tartar and sugar. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat; simmer for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice and zest; cool. Pour syrup over crackers. Dot with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll out remaining pastry; place over pie. Trim, seal and flute edges. Slit top crust to allow steam to escape. Bake at 425 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until crust is crisp and golden. Cool completely.

The crackers will look and taste just like apple slices. Some folks will even argue with you when you tell them this apple pie doesn't have any apples in it.