Fat Guy's Guide to Low-Cal Fruit Pies

As mentioned before, I am a product of the processed, fast-food nation. I love anything that you can buy in a 7-11. Of course, in Lancaster, there wasn't a 7-11 (you had to drive to the south-side of Columbus for a Slurpee - about 45 mins). There is nothing better than a frozen Coca-Cola and a Hostess Fruit Pie.

The cartoon character Bobby Hill has penchant for the sweet little fatty treats...and so do I. Like Bobby, it is the syrupy gelatinous fruit wrapped in a deep fried, sugar encrusted pie dough. Some of you may be disgusted by that description, but to a true lover of junk food and a poster-child for everything wrong with American food, it is pure heaven.

Of course, those from rural areas or those living near Amish country might know the homemade hand-pies sometimes called "Fry Pies." Like their processed cousins, Fry Pies give you the best of the Hostess neon desserts without the worries. However, I doubt those farmers, the Amish and the Mennonites are worrying about fiber grams, fat grams, etc. I may eat a farmer's breakfast, but I live a professor's life (a lot more chair sitting and podium standing than hay bailing and cow feeding).

Now, the good news. I have found a tasty recipe that works for your hand-pie obsession. Hungry Girl (I know, I know....don't be turned off by the name, guys...SHE'S AWESOME) has a great take on the hand-pie. She used wonton eggroll wrappers for pie crust and a relatively traditional pie filling to keep the pies low in calories and fat. Her recipe can be found HERE.

I am not the best food presentation artist, but here is what I made, and let me tell you, they were good! Crunchy edges, gooey filling and even that wet pie crust bottom that true pie lovers respect (depending on how much longer you cook them than the recipe requests).