Black Widow Berry Pie - blackberries

Method

• Place blackberries, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, almond extract, and quick cooking instant tapioca in a large bowl. Gently fold the berries until they are all well coated with sugar. Let sit for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• On a floured board, roll out half your dough in a circle for the bottom crust and line a greased pie plate with it. Trim edges and crimp. Pour filling into bottom crust.
• Roll out the other half of the dough in an oblong shape to cut strips from. Use a pizza cutter to cut strips about 1/4 inch (I warbled and wiggled the cutter a little to create wavy and slightly creepier strips).
• Beat the egg with a tablespoon of water for an egg wash (we'll use it to stick the strips together).
• Start with at least three long strips to create the base of the spider web (I think I should have used four or five). Drape the tips over the edges of the crust (we'll trim later).
• Now, beginning in the center, cut strips to size so that they create a web shape. "Miter" the corners (like a frame), so the pieces don't overlap. For the best spider web effect, curve the strips a bit in towards the center as you go, if possible. Wet the underside of the tips with the egg as you go, so they'll stick.
• Make a spiral (not concentric circles), all the way out to the outer crust. Add the spider (mine's not the best, so I'll let you create your own). I should have put her in the center; I think it would have been much more dramatic.
• Trim the excess strips from around the edges, and give all of the crust a good wash of egg with a pastry brush. Sprinkle a bit of sugar over the crust for a shimmery crust. Bake on the bottom rack 30 minutes (or until golden).
• Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.