It's an Apple Pie kinda day!

Happy Thursday!!! With this being the final stretch to turkey day I thought I would share my AMAZING apple pie recipe!!  I usually do not like apple pie...but I will make mine any day! This one is easy, peasy! It calls for Granny Smith apples, which tend to be a little tart, but when tossed with cinnamon and sugar, become syrupy and sweet! Usually I buy my crust, Pillsbury Crust, the one that comes already made in the box! Ha ha. But for all my loyal readers, I challenged myself and made a homemade butter crust.  Most crust are made with lard, and I have never been successful with that kind. Butter crust is made with whole butter, and comes out golden and flaky. Here is the recipe for the crust, try it of course! But don't be ashamed to buy the box stuff either, this is supposed to be fun! Don't make it a chore....I do it all the time ;)

You will need:

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks whole butter, cut into cubes and chilled
1/2 cup of ice water

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt (fluff with a fork).  Cut in butter, a few cubes at a time, I like to mash it all together with my hands. Do this until all butter in incorporated and mixture resembles large crumbles.  Gradually add water and mix. Mix until mixture comes together into a ball wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in ice box up to 4 hours! or place in freezer for 45 minutes!

Cut into two pieces. Roll out one piece big enough to hang over the sides of the pie plate. Heat over to 375, par-bake crust for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven.

Apple Filling, You will need:

5-7 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced, thinly (I use an "apple-corer-slicer" you can slice them with a knife, don't push yourself to get them paper thin. Just as thin as you can get them)
1/4 cup cinnamon
1/2 sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
about 5 slices of butter
apple juice or apple cider


Directions:

With all your apple slices in a large bowl, toss them with half of your cinnamon and half of your sugar.  When coated, layer apple slices in par-baked pie crust, in a circular fashion. When all apples are layered neatly, sprinkle remaining cinnamon and sugar over mixture. Crumble brown sugar over pie and place slices of butter around the top of the pie.  Drizzle apple juice over pie, and cover with top crust.  Be sure and poke holes to vent, I usually use a fork.  Bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour! After baking remove from oven and let cool for about 20-30 minutes, it will be hard, but try and resist!

This will change the way you think about apple pie. The best part is when you cut it AFTER IT HAS COOLED, the apples in the pie are so pretty, they are layered, and the syrup from the brown sugar makes it gooey. It plates beautifully! Enjoy....

Bon Appetit