Spiced Apple PIe



And the challenge is:  APPLE PIE....I could only shutter at the thought.  You see, I don't make pies. Well, that's not true.  I don't make pies that involve two crusts...or involve rolling out dough that will go into a pie plate.  Hmmmm....guess I was right the first time.  I don't really make pies.

You can only imagine the knot in my stomach at the thought of this month's Crazy Cooking Challenge:  Apple Pie!  It is as though Tina, at Mom's Crazy Cooking, and the brainchild of this event, jumped inside my head to see what I really avoided cooking...and then she made a list...geeez...she has a list....

Okay, a pie it is.  Apple it is.  A contingency plan, there is!  Armed with my rolling pin, my recipe from 1994, when I last made an apple pie, and Dorie Greenspan's, Baking From My Home to Yours, along with positive comments about baking an apple pie from Monique at La Table De Nana, I marched into the kitchen.

Well, apples, I needed apples...my friend had given me a handy dandy apple pealer, slicer and corer that would be perfect for the job....


I read everything that Dorie shared about pie dough to-dos and not-to-dos.....why haven't I read this section before?  Oh, I don't make pies, that is why...

I follow directions really well.  I actually made the dough, rolled the dough, and got it into the pie plate without a disaster!  Thank you, Dorie.....  It all came together and after a sprinkling of raw sugar was ready to pop into the oven.  I was such a happy camper!!

I also followed Dorie's recommendation and sprinkled 2 teaspoons of graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of the crust before adding the apple mixture.  The crumbs will absorb some of the liquid preventing the crust from becoming soggy.  I also rolled the dough out between two pieces of wax paper using the mat diagrams for size.


Spiced Apple Pie
adapted from Bon Appetit, November 1994

Serves 8

Crust
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1///4 tsp mace
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
5 Tbsp (about) ice water

Filling
3 pounds tart green apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup plus 1 tsp sugar (I used 1 tsp raw sugar on the top)
1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar (I only had dark brown sugar so that is what I used.)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp ground mace
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground allspice

1 tsp milk

For the crust
Combine flour, sugar, salt and mace in processor.  Using on/off turns, cut in chilled butter and vegetable shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Gradually blend in enough water by tablespoons to form moist clumps.  Gather dough into ball.  Divide dough into 2 pieces.  Flatten each into disk.  Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.  (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.  Keep refrigerated.  Soften dough slightly at room temperature before rolling.)

For filling
Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400° F.  In large bowl, toss apples with 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon peel, mace, cloves and allspice.

Roll  1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch-diameter round.  Transfer to 9-inch-diameter deep dish glass pie plate.  Trim dough overhang to 1/2 inch.  Brush edge of crust light with water.  Transfer apple mixture to crust, mounding in the center.  Roll out second dough disk to 12-inch-diameter round.  Place atop apples.   Trim dough overhang to 1 inch:  reserve scraps.  Fold top crust edge under bottom crust edge, pressing to seal.  Crimp edge decoratively.  Cut several slits in crust to allow steam to escape.  Brush crust with milk; sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar (or raw sugar).

Place pie on baking sheet.  Bake until crust is golden brown and juices bubble, covering crust edges with foil if browning too quickly, about 1 hour 10 minutes.  Transfer pie to rack and cool.

PRINTABLE RECIPE


The pie was delicious!!  I am no longer intimated by pie crust!  Yippee....  I shared the pie with some neighbors as I couldn't see Mr. T and me eating the whole thing.  I got a call back from both friends to let me know it was a keeper!!  Mr. T told me it was the best apple pie he had eaten...it is the spices....Mmmmm....

I love the spiciness of this pie and the flaky crust....I know I said it but I must repeat:  This was a delicious apple pie!!  You will want to make a Spiced Apple Pie....and soon!!



Photobucket 

I am participating in the Crazy Cooking Challenge hosted by Tina at Mom's Crazy Cooking.  You may enjoy participating....Tina has a way of knowing your cooking secrets...avoidances....but, that, in part, is what the challenge is about...overcoming those cooking fears but most importantly, preparing a theme based recipe along with fellow-bloggers...enjoying the challenge and sharing the successes and rich recipes that are found!  Take a look at what's cookin'!

I am also sharing at On the Menu Monday hosted by Yvonne at Stone Gable.


Comments

  1. Delicious recipe and beautiful photographs.

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  2. Congrats, your pie turned out beautiful! Just imagine all the different ones you can make now-enjoy:@)

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  3. I love apple pie...
    I think your are delicious
    I wont a slice
    Bye from Italy

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  4. Look at you:) and the pie..It's gorgeous..Dorie would be proud..Hope she sees this..I have a peeler..your thing looks fabulous..does way more..

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  5. It looks like you make pies now. This is beautiful. Wow.

    Velva

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  6. Your pie looks so delicious. Now that you've got pie crust mastered I can't wait to see what other pies will come flying out of your kitchen. I would love a slice of this pie, like, right now. Need to get my hands on an apple peeler/corer.

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  7. Beautiful pie, Kate! I remember mace from my mom's spice drawer...I need to pick some up and try your yummy pie :)

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  8. your pie looks delicious! I love the tip with the grahm crumbs, wish I had known, mine turned out like apple soup!

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  9. What a beautiful pie! Great job on the crust, I don't make my own either. Stopping over from CCC #12.

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  10. You did a fabulous job with your crust.

    #27 on today's list.

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  11. Oh goodness, this pie looks delicious....I would love to have a slice right now with a hot cup of coffee....It's cold outside today!
    Hugs,
    shug

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  12. Can you hear my cheering?! For someone who hates to make pies, you did an fantastic job! I used to fear making pie crusts, but now I find it kind of therapeutic-- with the exception of the egg/vinegar one, that tends to disintegrate...but that's been overcome by rolling on parchment paper and then flipping it on top. I digress-- I hope that you have conquered your fear, and will continue to bake pies. My men so appreciate it, when I do. What a fun cooking group! I'm hopping over to read the rules. I don't have a problem posting on a certain day, but I just don't want to get kicked out if I don't post at all.

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  13. wow that look simply amazing!!

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  14. The graham cracker idea is so clever! Love it! Jen #16

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  15. What a fantastic looking pie! For not liking to make pies, you did an incredible job--way to go! Great CCC recipe! I'm #17 :)

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  16. I think you might be spoofing us Kate, I think your pie looks like you've been a pie-maker for a long time? Yum, I'm dreaming of this served warm with a scoop of vanilla custard, mmm,mmmm,mmm!

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  17. Your pie is gorgeous, and I love all the spices. It sounds so yummy!

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  18. Those are my sons favorite apples. I bet he'd love this pie!!

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  19. This is a great Spiced Apple Pie that we would just love. Have a great week and thanks for sharing.
    Miz Helen

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  20. Love making and eating apple pie. Yummm!
    Making one tonight for the grandparents all together with new baby tomorrow night for dinner. It will be turkey and pies, plus more. Your rooted veggies may be among the menu. Baby is one week old today and soooooo sweet.

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  21. Wow, what a pie. So glad you conquered your fear. I love making apple pie and I love the spices in this one. Mace? never thought to use it. Great job. Gorgeous pictures too.

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  22. Hi Kate, Your photos are terrific -- I think the apple slicer is the greatest (though I don't have one) invention. Your pie sounds so delicious.

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  23. Congrats on overcoming your pie anxieties and making an awesome apple pie. That's what I love about the CCC. It's fun mastering things you never would have made otherwise.
    #1

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  24. Great Job it looks amazing and graham cracker idea I must try. Thanks for joining CCC.

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