Skip to main content

applepiecrumbborder.jpg


Note: This is a very forgiving pie so feel free to use any crust you like, including a favourite one if you have it. I usually make this with Royal Gala apples but you can use whatever apples you wish.

For the crust:

3 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into very small pieces
1 cup vegetable shortening, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup to 1 cup ice water

In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt.

Add the butter and shortening and with your fingers, gently begin working the fat into the flour mixture. Rub the butter and shortening into the flour until you have a mixture that is very coarse and looks like large flakes of oatmeal.

Begin adding the ice water by adding 1/2 a cup. Start gathering the dough into a ball. If it comes together, you can turn it out onto a well-floured surface. If not, add a bit more water (a tablespoon at a time) until it comes together.

Turn it out onto a well-floured surface and knead lightly 2 or 3 times, until it comes together into a ball. (Do not knead the dough for too long or it will be tough!). Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, but you can refrigerate it for up to 2 or 3 days.

This one recipe will yield two single 9-inch pies or one double 9-inch pie.

For the filling:

6 or 7 apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. finely grated orange zest
2 tbsp. Grand Marnier
1/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces

Combine all the filling ingredients (except the butter) in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide in half. Put half in the refrigerator for another pie.

Flour a work surface and gently roll the dough into an 11-inch round (it should be about 1/8th to a 1/4-inch thick). Use a light touch with the dough as you don’t want to overwork it.

Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate or pie tin. Trim the excess dough and crimp the edges decoratively or simply roll them under so that you have an even edge.

Take the prepared filling and pack it into crust. Dot the filling with the butter and then put the pie in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

For the crumb topping:

1 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

While the pie is in the refrigerator, mix all of the topping ingredients together, rubbing the butter into the flour/sugar mixture until you have a very crumbly topping.

Once the pie has chilled, sprinkle the topping evenly over the pie.

Bake the pie in the centre of the oven on a baking sheet to avoid any spills. The pie usually takes about an hour and ten minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s done when the crust and topping are golden and the apple filling begins to bubble through the topping.

Let cool for at least 30 minutes for slicing and serving.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Funghi!!!

I LOVE me some Mushorooms!! Love Love Love!! and so when I saw gorgeous Shiitake mushrooms at Trader Joes... I said Oh Yeah Funghi Pasta for us. I know people either love em or hate em. I am in a crowd split in the middle with both lovers and haters, BUT the family loved this especially Owen who made me so proud because he too will be a Funghi lover. There is nothing like Olive Oil for bringing out the woody accents from mushrooms, and that is how this recipe begins. Mind you this is SO very easy. 3/4 pound fresh white mushrooms 1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic 2 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley Salt 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 Tablespoons butter Black Pepper ground Fresh 3/4 cup Freshly grated Parm-Reg cheese 1 pound of Pasta ( I use Whole Wheat Penne) 1. Rinse all mushrooms quickly, Cut white mushrooms if they are not sliced from cap to stem into thin lengthwise slices. Discard and de...

Meyer Lemon Bars

Owen was all involved as you can see What the hell is is a Meyer Lemon?? Well it is pretty much a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange and therefore they make for great dressings, desserts, etc.. and Yes there is a special season when these amazing lemons come out, and when they do I make the most fantastic lemon bars. I found them at Trader Joes. Yeah I know it looks like Owen is squeezing an orange, but it's not it is a MEYER LEMON , ok!!! Meyer Lemon Bars (makes one 8-inch square pan) Crust: 1 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 1/8 tsp salt 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2 inch pieces Filling: 2 large eggs 1 cup superfine or bakers' sugar 2 tbsp all purpose flour 1/8 tsp salt 2 tsp finely grated meyer lemon zest* 1/4 cup freshly squeezed meyer lemon juice* Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. To make crust: Combine flour, confect...

Pasta e Ceci (Pasta with Chickpeas)

Like Pasta e Fagioli which is one of my favorite dishes, but obviously this has chickpeas, and it is blended, and well maybe not EXACTLY like Pasta e Fagioli, but let's say in the same Family, alright? I am not a big fan of the chickpea, BUT in this dish it is so damn good. Anytime I serve this, it is always well received. The kids, my father, even Karen was a fan and yes that is supposed to mean if she likes it most people will. Pasta e Ceci (Pasta with Chickpeas) serve 4. 2 to 3 tbsp. olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 carrot, finely chopped 1 celery stalk, finely chopped 1 tsp. hot pepper flakes 1 sprig rosemary or 1 tbsp. dried rosemary 1-1/2 cups chickpeans (use canned chickpeas that have been drained and rinsed) 2-1/2 cups chicken stock or water 1 cup dried pasta (I like to use tubetti which is a tiny tubular pasta) 3 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste Parmigiano Reggiano to taste In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil with the...