Apple Pie By Natasha Food

DEEP DISH APPLE PIE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together 2 and 1/4 cups flour, 2 Tbsp of sugar and 1/2 tsp salt.
• Cut 1 1/2 sticks of COLD butter and 6 oz of cream cheese into small cubes. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut the butter and cream cheese into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces.
• Drizzle 3 Tbsp of cold heavy cream over the dough and cut into the dough with a spatula until the dough forms moist clumps.
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces, press into flat disks, cover tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Once its fully cooled, remove 1 piece of dough from the refrigerator and on a clean surface, roll it out into a 13-inch circle. (Dough rolls out easier without flouring the surface, use pastry scraper to lift rolled out crust). Transfer the dough to a deep dish 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate it. Take the next piece of dough out of the fridge and roll it into a 12-inch circle, cover with plastic and refrigerate while you make the fruit filling.
• Combine 9 cups of Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch thick with 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/8 tsp salt in a bowl. Mix well and let the filling stand for 15 minutes, stirring a few times in the process.
• Take your pie dish out of the refrigerator and pour the entire apple filling mixture (juices and all) into the bottom crust and scatter pieces of 2 Tbsp of butter over the top.
• Just before putting on the top crust, brush the edge of the bottom crust with cold water. Trim any excess dough on the edge and fancy up the edge with a flute pattern. To flute, with your index finger and thumb, pinch your other index finger, now imagine there is dough in between both hands. Cut 6 to 8 slits in the top crust to vent the pie.
• Sprinkle top with the mixture of 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and 2 tsp of sugar. Bake apple pie for 15 minutes at 425˚F. If you see your crust browning too quickly, cut a 3-inch hole in the center of a square piece of foil and loosely place over the top of your pie.
• Reduce oven to 350˚F, slip a baking sheet under the pie (I like to line it with foil to catch any drips) and bake another 45 minutes. For the filling to thicken properly, you have to let it cool completely (2 to 3 hours). You can keep the pie for up to 3 days on the counter.

APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Make the dough by hand. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean sized bits of butter. (If the flour/butter mixture gets warm, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before proceeding.) Add the egg and stir the dough together with a fork or by hand in the bowl. If the dough is dry, sprinkle up to a tablespoon more of cold water over the mixture.
• Make the dough in a food processor. With the machine fitted with the metal blade, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles yellow corn meal mixed with bean size bits of butter, about 10 times. Add the egg and pulse 1 to 2 times; don't let the dough form into a ball in the machine. (If the dough is very dry add up to a tablespoon more of cold water.) Remove the bowl from the machine, remove the blade, and bring the dough together by hand.
• Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour.
• Make the filling. Put the lemon juice in a medium bowl. Peel, halve, and core the apples. Cut each half into 4 wedges. Toss the apple with the lemon juice. Add the sugar and toss to combine evenly.
• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apples, and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer, about 2 minutes. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the apples soften and release most of their juices, about 7 minutes.
• Strain the apples in a colander over a medium bowl to catch all the juice. Shake the colander to get as much liquid as possible. Return the juices to the skillet, and simmer over medium heat until thickened and lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the reduced juice and spices. Set aside to cool completely. (This filling can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated or frozen for up to 6 months.)
• Cut the dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough into a disc about 11 to 12 inches wide. Layer the dough between pieces of parchment or wax paper on a baking sheet, and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes.
• Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan with one of the discs of dough, and trim it so it lays about 1/2 inch beyond the edge of the pan. Put the apple filling in the pan and mound it slightly in the center. Brush the top edges of the dough with the egg. Place the second disc of dough over the top. Fold the top layer of dough under the edge of the bottom layer and press the edges together to form a seal. Flute the edge as desired. Brush the surface of the dough with egg and then sprinkle with sugar. Pierce the top of the dough in several places to allow steam to escape while baking. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
• Bake the pie on a baking sheet until the crust is golden, about 50 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving. The pie keeps well at room temperature (covered) for 24 hours, or refrigerated for up to 4 days.

THE BEST APPLE CRUMBLE PIE EVER!!!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• In a large bowl, (at least 8 cups) combine 2 cups water and the lemon juice, as you cut up the apples put them in the water. This will keep them from browning. When you are finished cutting them up, drain off all the water.
• Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the 2 tablespoons of flour. add to the apples.
• Grease a pie tin. Line it with the pie crust. Fill with the apple/flour mixture.
• In separate bowl combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the 1/2 cup flour, cinnamon, ginger, and mace. Cut in butter until crumbly. Pat onto the top of the apples. Cover the edge of the pie with foil.
• Bake for 30 minute then remove foil. Bake 30 minute more or until topping is golden.
• Enjoy this decadent delight!

APPLE FILLING FOR PIES

Steps:

• Sprinkle lemon juice over apples in saucepan.
• Mix next four ingredients together and add to apples.
• Mix well.
• Add very hot juice to pan, (I microwave juice for 2 minutes) cook, stirring constantly until thickened.
• Remove from heat and cool.
• Fill a well chilled 9 inch pastry lined pan and cover with top crust.
• Bake on lowest rack at 425* for 10 minutes, and finish baking on center rack until bubbling, about 20 minutes more.

APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, combine sugars, flour and spices; set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat. , On a lightly floured surface, roll one half of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim even with rim. Add filling; dot with butter. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Beat egg white until foamy; brush over crust. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover edge loosely with foil. , Bake 25 minutes. Remove foil; bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 20-25 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack.

APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the pastry, sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the butter or margarine. Using your fingers, mix together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
• Add about 3 tbsp cold water - 1 tbsp at a time - to bind the mixture into a ball. Then wrap it in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge while you prepare the apples, or for 30 mins if you have time.
• While the pastry is chilling, core the apples, then cut into even-sized chunks so they all cook in the same amount of time. Put the apples into the pie dish, drizzle over the honey and add the cinnamon, mixed spice and about 2 tbsp water.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface until it is large enough to cover the pie dish. Using the rolling pin, carefully lift the pastry and lay it over the top of the apple mixture. Carefully trim off the excess pastry (this can be rerolled and cut into shapes to decorate the pie crust if you like) and press the pastry edges onto the dish to create a seal.
• Make a small cut in the pastry so that the air can escape during cooking, then brush with beaten egg to glaze.
• Bake the pie in the oven for 20-30 mins until the pastry is golden and sandy in appearance and the apple filling is bubbling and hot. Serve while still warm with crème fraîche, ice cream or natural yogurt.