apple pie

When I moved to Mexico I came knowing little or nothing about cooking.  When I put my belongings up for sale when I was preparing for the big move, I sold lots of things I wish I had kept.  Since then I have replaced most things and actually use them now.

Moving down here changed how I cooked.  I HAD to.  Of course there are places we can pick up food to go, but there are only so many choices.

Over time I have learned to cook many things and most of them I have to do from scratch.  Wish we had a Kroger to stop in and pick up things.  But, that is not an option down here.

Thankfully the internet has been a wonderful tool.  Each week I look at several food blogs trying to find new recipes to try.

The first time I wanted to make an apple pie I turned to the internet.  I am sure there were tons of recipes available but I narrowed it down to one.  The first one I tried turned out wonderfully so I never looked for a replacement recipe.

I don't remember where I found the recipe, but if memory serves me, I believe it was somewhere on allrecipes.com.  I liked the recipe because, not only did they have a recipe for the pie filling, they had an attached recipe for the pastry shell.  Remember, no Kroger to pick up the prepackaged ones!

I figured I would give you the recipe so you can try it out for yourself.

Ingredients:

Dough:
2 1/2 c AP flour
4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp fine salt
14 Tbsp cold butter, diced
1 egg, lightly beaten w/ 2 Tbsp cold water

Filling:
2 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
3 lbs apples
2/3 c sugar
1/4 c butter
1/4 tsp cinnamon (I use a lot more)
pinch of nutmeg (and more of this, too)
1 egg, lightly beaten

Direction:

Dough:  In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar and salt.  Using a pastry blender or fork (or a food processor if you are cool, unlike me) and work the butter into the dry ingredients.  Once it is like cornmeal with small chunks, add the egg-water mixture and combine with a fork.  Once combined, form into a disk, put in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Filling:  Cut apples and put in a large bowl.

Pour sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lime/lemon juice onto the apples and mix together until apples are well coated.



In a large skillet, melt the butter and then add the apple mixture to the skillet.  Cook until soften, maybe 15 to 20 minutes.  (While you are waiting for the apples to soften, prepare your pie shell.)  Using a slotted spoon, remove the apples, leaving the syrupy mixture in the skillet, and put in the pie shell.  Once all the apples are removed, continue to cook the cinnamon sugar mixture until it caramelizes some, just for a few minutes.  Then pour the syrup over the apples.

Put the top of the pie crust on and brush the surface with the beaten egg wash.

Cook in 375 degree oven for 50 minutes (or until crust is golden).

Enjoy!