Apple Pie

Our neighbors next door have an apple tree that hangs over our fence. Some of them fell into our yard. (Some of them fell from the tree when Cookie Monster pulled on them, but let's just keep that quiet. They're partly ours, right, since the tree hangs on our side of the fence?)


See? Here are said apples.

Peel and cut up the apples and cover with lemon juice as you're finishing cutting up the rest so they don't get too brown. Then combine with the sugar, flour and spices.

Roll out your pastry crusts. Clearly, mine can be termed "rustic." Sometimes that's also my word for "ugly."

Then dump in all the apples.


Then cover up the apples with another pie crust blanket. Nighty-night, little apples. When I see you again, you will be gooey and sugary and yummy!
Crimp the edges of the crust together with your fingers.
Make sure you score the blanket so steam can escape.


Wrap tinfoil around the edges so they don't burn. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake some more (about 20 minutes) until the top is golden brown.


Oh Yeah. There's some apple pie!




From the Better Homes & Gardens 75th Anniversary Edition
1 recipe Pastry for Double-Crust Pie
6 cups thinly sliced, peeled cooking apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons AP flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Crust:
2 1/2 cups AP flour (I usually use whole wheat since that's what we have)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening (I used butter since that's what I had)
8-10 tablespoons cold water

In a medium bowl, stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-sized. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss with fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all flour mixture is moistened. Divide in half; form each half into a ball.
On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten 1 dough ball. Roll dough from center to edges into a 12-inch diameter circle. Repeat with other half. Fill with pie filling and bake. Duh.