APPLE PIE

The pie was so yummy. Actually this is a photo of a previous apple pie as my camera battery needs recharging. I was able to take the photo last night but not load it to my computer photo program. But it is the same pie and recipe I always make, so here goes.


Zo's pie crust and her Mom's apple pie.
For double crust
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 stick well chilled all vegetable shortening or 3/4 cup of same
6-8 tablespoons  ice cold water


Blend flour and salt in mixing bowl.
Cut chilled shortening into 1/2 inch cubes. Cut in chilled shortening cubes into flour mixture using a pastry blender in a up and down chopping fashion until mixture resembless coarse crumbs with some small pea-sized pieces remaining. 
Sprinkle half the amount of recommended ice water over the flour mixture.
Using a fork stir flour from the bottom of the bowl to the top. Add more water by the tablespoon until the dough is moist enough to hold together when pressed together. If dough is still crumbly add more ice water.
Shape dough into two balls and then flatten balls into two disc's. Wrap in plastic wrap and put in fridge for at least a half hour or up to two days. The dough needs to be chilled well.
When rolling the dough roll away from center of disc on a work surface lightly covered with flour. Make your circle two inches wider than than pie plate for the bottom crust. 


Apple pie.
6 cups peeled and thinly sliced gravenstein apples (these are usually only found at farm stands if you cannot find them use Granny Smith)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 egg for egg wash for crust


Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Put peeled apples in a bowl and add the lemon and mix well.
In a separate bowl add the sugar, cornstarch, and spices. Mix well.
Add this mixture to the apples and stir to incorporate.
Put the apple mixture into the pie crust in a nine inch pie plate.
Cover with top crust and crimp the edges. Cut vent holes into the top of the pie. It is fun to use your imagination here. There are lots of cute idea's. I have a apple cookie cutter so I use that some time or my star shaped one. Just press onto the dough and press in until the dough slices then remove the cookie cutter but leave the dough in place. Or you can just cut slits or little circles or whatever you prefer.
Then using a whip or a fork whip the egg till frothy and using a brush, brush onto the crust except for the fluted edge.  I then like to add a sprinkle of sugar all over the crust.


Set the pie on a baking pan lined with foil (just in case it juices over)
Pop in oven and bake 45-50 minutes or until juices and bubbles appear and the crust is golden brown.


Then cool, grab a fork and dig in! So good.
Yes it does take time but it is apple pie from scratch.
If you think you cannot make or want to deal with the crust, just buy Pillsbury premade pie crust in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. They are certainly no match for homemade but you can still have pie!


That is all for today as I have much to do this morning. Hubby will be home about one or so. I want my all my chores done early as it is to be in the low eighties today and I am going to be outside soaking up this early fall sun.


We are prolonging summer this evening as we are grilling burgers with the works. I am also making a bean dish have not figured out what as yet. Maybe just a mixed bean pot of various canned beans, peppers and onions and make sauce to simmer them in.
For desert? Apple pie and vanilla ice cream of course!
That's all for now must walk.