Apple Pie

 

Saturday night I finally used up the last of the 40lbs of apples we had. I made an apple pie to finish them off and to provide instant gratification because we hadn't eaten any of the apples yet. (they are all canned) Also got to use the cute maple leaf cookie cutter I made which makes me happy. Our friend was over so we all ate apple pie and watched a few X-men movies as it poured rain outside.

 

The consistency of this apple pie was my ideal- crunchy but cooked apples, cinnamon flavor dominating a sugary flavor, and plenty of flaky crust. I topped each slice off with some homemade vanilla whipped cream.

 

Apple Pie:

recipe altered from this one

 

Crust

2 1/2 cups flour

3/4 tsp salt

13 tbs cold butter

1/4 cup ice water

 

Filling

1 cup toasted pecans; crushed

8-10 cups peeled, cored & sliced apples

2 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs flour

2 tbs cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

5 tbs water

3-4 tbs honey

2 tbs butter; diced into small cubes

 

1    mix together and salt, cut or grate in butter until all the butter is about the size of a pea

2    add water 2 tbs at a time, mix together and add water only until it holds together when you make a ball. Gather half the dough and knead 3-5 times, cover in plastic wrap and place in fridge. Repeat with the other half of the dough
3   Mix sliced apples with lemon juice. In another bowl mix together flour, cornstarch, salt and spices.  Sprinkle flour mixture over apples and mix until they are coated.
4   Grease a 9" pie pan. Pull the first disc of dough from the fridge and roll out on a floured surface. Roll it out until it is large enough for your pie pan, test this by placing your pie pan upside-down on top of the dough- the dough should be about 2" longer on each side than the pan.
5   Cut the dough into a circle 2" bigger than your pan, fold dough in half, in half again, place in pie pan and unfold.
6   Press dough into pan and create top frill with your fingers. Sprinkle pecans into bottom of pan. Fill pan to top with the apple mixture. Drizzle on honey and sprinkle in the water. Push the butter cubes into the top layer of the apples.
7   Roll out the other dough disc and cut into desired shapes. Place over top of pie. Put pie back in fridge and preheat oven to 425 degrees F
8    Once oven is preheated bake for 20 minutes, then reduce oven to 375 degrees F and bake for about 40 more minutes. Check the pie after about half hour and if the edges or top start to brown to much cover lightly with aluminum foil.
9   Remove from oven and let sit for about 15-20 minutes

 

We also finally got around to brewing beer this weekend. Joshua tried out the wort chiller he acquired. Since he is back and forth to his machines for work he just happened to have the tube we needed to make it work!