It`s impossible to hate pies...ok, let`s not exaggerate, hate is powerful word for a pie, don`t you think? Once again: It`s impossible not to like pies (there, that`s better). I don`t know what kind of person does not get all excited when the glorious smell of pie hits nostrils.
You can`t go wrong with pies. Never! For example, this pie right here ruined my mother`s diet. And my mommy has a huge amount of self control. Now that says something.
You want to persuade someone? Offer them a seat and a slice of this piece of heaven. It`s a matter of minutes until you succeed in making that person do what you ask. Ok, don`t take me seriously, I`m a bit crazy.
Like some of my posts, this one is full of pictures. And I mean it! I swear I tried to take only a couple, but I lack this ability of shutting off my camera when I`m supposed to.
I don`t know why I haven`t listened to my dad when he asked me several times to make him a pie. My first attempt was a Coconut Cream Pie and, although I was fifteen and lacked the littlest experience in baking...I did it. Let`s skip the part with the crust being half unbaked. And not very delicious. And the ants eating my pie while I was waiting it to set.
I remember even now how I was picking and killing those awful insects, them crawling up my hand and biting me. In the end, I did a pretty darn good job and I had only 10 dead ants lying around in my y pie instead of 130 like there were before.
Poor daddy, he never actually knew that those tiny black specks in his birthday pie were ants. I told him they were "burnt coconut flakes".
This story has a happy ending: my father has been asking for this pie since then. And I never found the right time to make it once again.
Need I mention that he fell in love with this pie? He more than half of it and my mommy ate the rest. I only got a tiny slice. But I don`t regret the fact that I was left with zero second helping...they are my parents and I love them.
Don`t you just adore the pleased faces your dear ones are making when eating something they really adore? I think there`s no better feeling in the world. Makes me so happy that I want to bake another 61298 more batches.
Oh, I should mention what takes an ordinary pie like this and turns it into food for the Gods: pie crust. Yes, buddy, heard me right! Buttery, flaky, scrumptious pie crust with amazing sweet n` tart apple filling. Boom!
Can you see those "layers"? It resembles puff pastry, I swear! And this only because I used extremely cold ingredients and have tried to keep them so during the whole process. Another secret of perfect, flaky crust? Roll the dough out onto a baking sheet. Dust your rolling pin and the top of the dough a bit. Roll, stretch, put in pie plate, peel of parchment paper.
This is how you keep the dough light and flaky, because the more flour you put the denser and heavier it will get. Don`t want that. However, remember it`s not recommended you work the dough (or keep it outside the fridge) for too long or else the butter will soften and you`ve done no good to your crust. As I said before, try to keep everything cold. (meaning the ingredients, not your attitude, haha. Bad pastry joke, I know)
I really believe that the strawberry in all the pictures is doing a good job in highlighting the beauty of the pie.
Ingredients:
for the pie crust:
180 gr butter -very cold (preferably out of the freezer) cut in cubes
250 gr flour-plain, all purpose
3 Tablespoons milk -also very cold(out of the fridge)
3 Tablespoons sugar
1. In a food processor or a large mixing bowl, throw in the flour, sugar and cold butter. Using a fork or pulsing if using a food processor, work the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, combining everything after each addition. Check it by pinching a small amount between your fingers and if it stays together, then stop adding any liquid. If it still is crumbly and it falls apart, add 1 Tablespoon of liquid until it reaches the consistency which I mentioned above.
2.Line your work surface with parchment paper (8X8 inch/18X18 cm square) and turn out the mixture on it. Pull it together with your hands in a ball. Avoid kneading it or the warmth of your hand will soften the butter and you won`t get the desired texture of the crust. Cover it tightly in plastic wrap/cling film and pop it into the fridge for 1 hour.
for the filling:
750 gr. apples (Granny Smith are the best, but you can use a mix of different apples, I used Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Golden Delicious)
1/4 cup sugar
3 heaping Tablespoons cornstarch (or 6 of flour)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
a pinch of nutmeg
a pinch of cloves
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a few drops of lemon juice
1. Peel and core the apples. Cut them in wedges, slices, cubes, whatever you like, but try to chop them roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Put in the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Toss everything together until the cornstarch/ flour is coating the apples well. Set aside.
Assemble the Apple Pie:
1. Take out the dough and divide it into 2 pieces then line your counter with parchment paper. Lightly dust the top of the dough and your rolling pin with some flour. Roll out the dough into a circle, that has to be a bit bigger in diameter than your pie dish. Transfer the dough in the pie plate and gently press it so it fits. Pour the apple filling in.
Roll out the other piece of dough and if you want, make a lattice top or just cover the pie with it. Seal the edges with a fork and with a knife, make some slits in the center of the pie so the steam escapes while baking.
Beat and egg with a little bit of water and brush the top crust of the pie with it. Sprinkle some sugar over the top for a nice crunch.
Bake in the preheated oven at 425 d F/200 d C for the first 10 minutes, then lower the temp. to 375 d. F/180 d. C and bake for 40-45 minutes more or until the crust is lovely golden brown and the apples are soft. Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing. Enjoy warm or cold.
