Candied Ginger Apple Pie Food

CANDIED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Filling: Place apples, red hots, sugar and water in large saucepan. Bring apple mixture to a boil until red hots and sugar are dissolved (apples should not be completely cooked). Take off heat. Add almond extract and tapioca to mixture. Let cool till room temperature.
• Crust: Using food processor, pulse flour, pecans, salt, butter and sugar together. When you can't see large butter chunks, add water one tablespoon at a time. When dough forms, wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. Roll out on lightly floured board. Place bottom crust in buttered pie pan. Spoon room temperature apple mixture into bottom pie crust. Roll out remaining crust.
• Bake for 45 minutes.
• Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or all by itself.

WENDE'S BLUE-RIBBON APPLE PIE WITH CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• 2. Prepare pie dough and form pie shell as directed through Step 4 in the Buttery Pie Crust recipe, rolling out the bottom crust to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Roll out the top crust and fold it into quarters. Beginning about 3/4 inch from the center point, use a knife to cut 3 slits on both of the straight sides, leaving 1/2 inch between each. This will allow steam to escape as the pie bakes. Place the top crust on a plate. Cover both crusts with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
• 3. Peel, core, and thickly slice the apples. Place them in a large bowl and toss gently with the lemon juice.
• 4. Combine the brown sugar, ginger, cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a food processor. Pulse the machine on and off until well mixed and the ginger has been finely chopped. Add this mixture to the apples, along with the Calvados; toss gently to combine.
• 5. Remove the prepared pie shell from the refrigerator. Brush the bottom and sides with the egg-white mixture to prevent sogginess. Spoon in the apple filling. Dot the filling with the butter.
• 6. Remove the top crust from the refrigerator and unfold it over the filling. Trim the overhang to 1 inch. With a little water, moisten the edges where the crusts meet, then press together lightly and turn under. Crimp the edge decoratively. Brush the top crust lightly with the milk. Mix the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with the sugar and sprinkle the mixture over the pie.
• 7. Bake the pie in the center of the oven until the apples are tender, the juices are bubbly and the crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool on a rack before serving warm or at room temperature.

CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• Spray a cooling rack with nonstick spray and set it in a half sheet pan lined with parchment.
• Peel the ginger root and slice into 1/8-inch thick slices using a mandoline. Place into a 4-quart saucepan with the water and set over medium-high heat. Cover and cook for 35 minutes or until the ginger is tender.
• Transfer the ginger to a colander to drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Weigh the ginger and measure out an equal amount of sugar. Return the ginger and 1/4 cup water to the pan and add the sugar. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar syrup looks dry, has almost evaporated and begins to recrystallize, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer the ginger immediately to the cooling rack and spread to separate the individual pieces. Once completely cool, store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Save the sugar that drops beneath the cooling rack and use to top ginger snaps, sprinkled over ice cream or to sweeten coffee.

CANDIED APPLE PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325. Mix ginger snap crumbs, butter and 2 tablespoons sugar; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each just until blended. Stir in half each of pie filling, nuts and toffee. Pour into crust.
• Bake 35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with remaining pie filling, nuts and toffee.

CANDIED APPLE PIE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Mix crumbs, butter and 2 Tbsp. sugar; press onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla with mixer until blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each. Stir in 1/2 each pie filling, nuts and toffee. Pour into crust.
• Bake 35 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with remaining pie filling, nuts and toffee before serving.

BAKED GINGER-APPLE CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 9-inch square baking pan.
• Toss apples with granulated sugar and both gingers. Add lemon zest and juice and toss again. Spread apples evenly in buttered pan.
• Coarsely chop nuts and mix with oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in mixing bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles very coarse crumbs. (Or coarsely chop nuts in food processor. Add dry ingredients and pulse several times to mix. Place butter on top and pulse until mixture resembles very coarse crumbs.) Sprinkle topping over apples.
• Bake until apples are tender and topping is browned, 45-50 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream.