Southwestern Green Apple Pie Food

GREEN APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For pastry, mix flour and salt; cut in shortening.
• Add water 1 tbsp at a time, using only enough to make a workable paste (too little will make it crumbly). This pastry, being exceedingly rich, must be handled deftly.
• Roll out pastry and line pan.
• Make 2 (9 inch) shells.
• Thorough chilling before rolling makes pastry easier to handle.
• For filling, line pie pan with one pastry shell and fill with sliced apples.
• Mix and sift dry ingredients over the apples.
• Add water and lemon juice; dot with butter, then top with secondary pie shell.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until pie filling is done and pie is golden brown.
• If pie crust starts getting too dark before it is done.
• Cover with aluminum foil.
• ENJOY!

SOUTHERN APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Place cut up apples in the bottom crust. In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon and sprinkle mixture over the apples.
• Slice up the butter on top of the sugar mixture. Cover with the other crust. Make 3 slits in top of crust with a knife.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 45 minutes. Let sit for about 20 minutes before slicing.

THE BEST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the dough: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and process until the largest pieces of butter are pea-size. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Stir the vodka, vinegar and 1/4 cup ice water in a small bowl (or 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water if you're not using vodka). Drizzle the wet ingredients over the dough, and then mix with a fork until shaggy pieces form. Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands a couple of times until it comes together (it will look quite dry, which is fine). Transfer the large clumps of dough to a work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ice water over any remaining smaller bits of dough in the bowl and knead again to bring it together. If the remaining dough is still too dry to come together, add more ice water in 1 tablespoon increments. Add to the dough on the work surface and press together into a single mass, incorporating any dry bits. Then pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick block. Divide the block into 4 pieces with a bench scraper or knife. Stack the pieces on top of one another, tucking any unincorporated dry bits in between the layers. Flatten the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick block. Repeat this process (cutting, stacking and flattening) three more times; this creates layers of butter in the dough that produces a wonderful flaky, almost puff pastry-like crust.
• Divide the dough in half and form into 1-inch-thick discs; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or preferably overnight. The dough can be made 3 days ahead. Keep it refrigerated or freeze it for up to 3 months.
• To fill and assemble: Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/2-inch wedges. Toss the apples, brown sugar, flour, butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl. Let the fruit sit for 30 minutes to extract the juices.
• Meanwhile, soften one dough disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/8-inch thick (about 16 inches in diameter). Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate. Soften the second disc at room temperature for 5 minutes. Then roll it out to the same thickness and diameter as the first disc.
• Carefully transfer the second disc to a 9-inch pie dish. Lift the edges so the dough slumps down into the dish. Press the dough firmly against the sides and bottom of the dish. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Refrigerate for 5 minutes to firm up. Remove the first disc from the refrigerator and let it soften for 5 minutes.
• Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil and place it on the center rack.
• Scrape the apple filling into the pie dish, creating a mound in the center. Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl and brush the edges of the dough. Place the other disc over the filling. Trim the edges, leaving about a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the bottom edge up and over the top edge; press together to seal. Crimp the edge and brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Cut several vents in the top evenly spaced. Freeze the pie for 10 minutes.
• Put the pie dish on the preheated baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. Continue to bake for 45 minutes, and then loosely tent with foil. Continue baking until the crust is a deep golden brown and the juices are thick and vigorously bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes longer. The juices will start to bubble at around 75 minutes, but they will thicken and bubble faster in the last 15 minutes; don't be tempted to pull it out until the bubbles are really going. (If using a clear pie dish, check underneath to make sure the bottom crust is evenly browned.) Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let it cool at least 4 hours before serving. (Yes, it smells amazing, and yes, people love warm pie. But if you don't give it time to set up properly, the filling will be runny when you cut into it.)

SOUTHWESTERN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring, for 10 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño; cook for 2 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high; add beef and brown for 5 minutes.
• 2. Add tomato paste and spices; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes; simmer until liquid reduces, 15 minutes. Add corn, beans, and 4 tablespoons cilantro. Spoon into a 9x9-inch baking dish.
• 3. Place sweet potatoes in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain; mash with butter and milk. Spread mash over the meat mixture. Bake in a 400°F oven until brown, 30 minutes. Garnish with more cilantro.

SOUTHWESTERN POT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. While the butter is melting, add the chili powder, cumin and paprika and "bloom" the spices. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the frozen vegetable mix and let it cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the beans, chipotle and adobo sauce, corn and green chiles. Stir in the chicken stock and let it thicken slightly. Add the shredded chicken and stir together.
• Top with the biscuits and bake until the biscuits are golden brown, 13 to 16 minutes (see Cook's Note).
• Serve with a dollop of crema and garnished with cilantro, Fresnos and a lime wedge on the side.

SOUTHWESTERN GREEN APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Wash and core the apples, and cut them into regular segments. Make sure that all pits, stems, seeds, and seed pods have been removed.
• Put the apple pieces into a heavy-bottomed saucepan (a must for easy dispersion with the brown sugar) along with the can of chiles, liquid and all,on medium heat.
• Add the brown sugar. It's okay if it's lumpy or hard because it's going to melt.
• Stir around until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
• Spice the mixture to your liking, preferably a teaspoon or two of apple pie spice and 1/4-1/2 tsp red cayenne -- more if you dare!
• Add the cornstarch and stir in well.
• Keep the heat on low and let simmer for about 5 minutes, and stir well again, it should have a nice thick glue-like consistency.
• Pour into the pie shell and pat down evenly. Add a lattice or top crust, bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes after topping.

IMPOSSIBLY EASY SOUTHWESTERN PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Layer corn, onions and beans in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Stir Bisquick mix, milk, 1/2 cup salsa and the eggs until blended. Pour into pie plate.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa.

APPLE GREEN-CHILE PIE WITH CHEDDAR CRUST

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor or mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine flour and salt. Add butter one piece at a time, while pulsing or mixing at low speed, until mixture is fine and crumbly. Transfer to a large bowl and toss well with the cheese. Add ice water one tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with fingers just until dough holds together. To test, pinch a small amount of dough. If it is crumbly, add more ice water. Form dough into a ball, wrap loosely in plastic, then roll into a disk. Refrigerate at least one hour, or up to 3 days, before rolling. (Dough can be frozen for up to a month.)
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a circle at least 11 inches in diameter. Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, preferably glass. Turn edges under to make a thick rim; flute rim by pinching into a zigzag pattern. Refrigerate until ready to bake, at least an hour.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, toss apples, green chilies and lemon juice together. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients and add to apples and chilies, tossing until thoroughly coated.
• Make the topping: In a small bowl, mix flour, walnuts and brown sugar. Add melted butter and toss together until crumbly.
• Bake the pie: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Using a slotted spoon, scoop filling into chilled crust, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons of juice from bottom of bowl. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling. Bake 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until filling bubbles at edge and crust is brown. Serve warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

SUGAR FREE APPLE, PEAR OR ASIAN PEAR PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl stir together fruit, pie spice, tapioca, olive oil, and concentrate. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes. Pour mixture into the pie shell and top with pie crust. Vent top crust. Bake 60 to 75 minutes or until top crust is golden brown. Remove pie from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or cold.