Recipe Box

APPLE PIE

What is Thanksgiving without an apple pie. This year being invited to a family friends house in Southern California Apple Pie was one of my contributions to the meal. 

Apple Pie with Whipped Cream

Crust (Pate Brisee)

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits

2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons ice water plus additional if necessary

In a large bowl blend flour, butter, vegetable shortening, and salt until mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add 2T ice water, toss mixture until water is well incorporated, add additional water if necessary to form dough. Form into a ball, dust with flour, wrap in wax paper and chill for 1 hour. 

Filling

1 3/4 lb sweet apples (golden delicious)

1 3/4 lb tart apples (granny smith)

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon 

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits

milk for brushing the crust

Preheat oven to 450F. Roll out half the dough 1/8in thick on a lightly floured surface, fit it into a 9 in deep dish pie tin. Trim the edge leaving a 3/4in overhang. Chill the shell and remaining dough while making filling.

In a large bowl toss together apples, each peeled, cored, and cut into eighths, 3/4c sugar, lemon juice, salt,  and cinnamon. Let sit 15 minuites. Once juices have formed mix in flour till all ingredients well combined. Transfer the filling to the shell, and dot it with the butter. 

Roll out the remaining dough into a 13- by 14-inch round on a lightly floured surface, drape it over the filling, and trim it, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fold the overhang under the bottom crust, pressing the edge to seal it, and crimp the edge decoratively. Brush the crust lightly with the milk, cut slits in it with a sharp knife, forming steam vents, and sprinkle the pie evenly with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Bake the pie on a large baking sheet in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°F., and bake the pie for 20 to 25 minutes more, or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender.

Whipped cream

Whisk 1 pint heavy cream till soft peaks form add granulated sugar to taste and 1T vanilla bean paste. Continue whisking till stiff peaks form.