Foodie Blogroll

Monday, April 4, 2011

Old Fashioned Apple Pie ~

It was Pru's turn to decide on what we were going to make this week for Martha Mondays, she wanted us all to throw the seasons out the window and chose Martha Stewart's Old Fashioned Apple Pie. Now this was a little difficult for me because my mom makes the best apple pie, and I learned from her, and she learned from my dad's mom. So it's kinda in the family, and being from Michigan the apple selection is tops. Which is a big challenge living in Florida. My mom likes to use Spies apples, I think my grandma liked Ida Reds, we can't find either one down here. I was lucky though Martha's recipe calls for Granny Smiths, which we can find, but apples are a little pricey here this time of year, at least compared to Michigan. I used half Granny Smith and half Gala.

I gathered all the stuff I would need and set up a little area in my tiny kitchen, and got to work. It was a beautiful day here with it getting up to 87 F, so it was hard to stay inside with the oven on. That's okay, it's warm in the autumn here as well.


I want you all to know I went pretty much by the recipe...surprise...surprise! I made her dough recipe too and used the food processor, first time making dough that way. I must say it sure made it easy, but I think I like my mom's better...I don't know what it is, just a better texture. It called for an egg wash too which is another first...I don't think it turned out the way it was supposed to. I also sprinkled some sugar on top and it just seemed to melt in. I should of use some sanding sugar I guess. I think next time I'll skip the egg wash.

Old Fashioned Apple Pie (Martha Stewart's)
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting Pâte Brisée (Pie Dough)
Pate Brisee (Pie Dough)*
12 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
3/4 cup sugar, plus additional for pie top
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg, beaten

Directions:
1.Heat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pate brisee into two 1/8-inch-thick circles to a diameter slightly larger than that of an 11-inch plate. Press one pastry circle into the pie plate. Place the other circle on waxed paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill all pastry until firm, about 30 minutes.
2.In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice, spices, and flour. Toss well. Spoon apples into pie pan. Dot with butter, and cover with remaining pastry circle. Cut several steam vents across top. Seal by crimping edges as desired. Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with additional sugar.
3.Bake until crust is brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Let cool on wire rack before serving.


*Pâte Brisée (Pie Dough)


Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water

Directions:
1.In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
2.With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3.Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disc and wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 1 month


It rolled out easy enough, I don't think I needed the rolling pin cover (it was something my mom always had on her rolling pin)


I had to get out a bigger pie pan than I usually use for my quiche...



...and I still couldn't fit all 12 apples...


I couldn't find my cute little cutters that I use for my bento boxes. I was going to cut a tiny flower in the middle. We are doing a lot of spring cleaning around here.


I had some extra dough too. My mom would always sprinkle cinnamon, sugar and butter and roll it up...slice it and bake. It was such a treat for us kids the little cinnamon crust rolls...brings back memories. I was going to let Maranda do that, but I had some apples left too, so I tossed them on the leftover crust with cinnamon, sugar and butter...
...and folded the dough up and over, and baked it on an 8" stone right along side the pie.


While it all was in the oven baking, I went outside to help Wade trim the cactus tree...before you know it it can take over. It can grow from one cactus pad dropping on the ground and it takes root!


These innocent blossoms give you those invisible tiny stickers that hurt like crazy and you can't really see them to get them out. All you have to do is rub across your skin and you can feel them.

Mmmm ...smells good fresh out of the oven...


Just not happy about the egg wash on top...oh well...

It was a little juicy...I don't know why because it had flour in it, maybe it's the lemon juice. I also used half Granny Smith apples and half Gala apples, maybe that was it. What ever the reason it didn't really matter because it still tasted good!
To see some other participants of Martha Mondays visit:





To join us, be sure to let Brette from Martha and Me, she's really nice and there is no pressure to do it every week, just have fun!

22 comments:

  1. wow...such a yummy pie...looks absolutely delicious n mouth watering !

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  2. This looks like a fabulous recipe. Martha is truly a domestic goddess.You have done a good job. The egg wash may be messy but its the taste that matters.
    Hey, I would love to join this team of yours.I may not be able to do it every week but I sure can try. Now let me hope over to Brette's place.

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  3. That is a beautiful tree, Lyndsey!
    Your apple pie sounds divine and looks scrumptious! I will be saving this!

    Blessings, Catherine

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  4. Looks great...I've alaways had mixed luck with Martha's recipes...but this one looks like it turned out well. My mom always rolled up the leftover dough with cinnamon sugar too.

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  5. This is edible art! Ah, to be in the kitchen when that pie emerged from the oven...and enjoy a beuatiful slice. A lovely post on food, family and wonderful traditions passed down. Have a super week!

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  6. That is one beautiful pie! It's so big and puffy - mine always sink down. Your dog is precious too!

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  7. I love old fashion pie as well. Yours look terrific. How i wish I can join you for some. Yummm.... Tucker, keep yours eyes away from those pie. They're mine! haha... Btw, your cactus tree is fruiting. I heard that those fruits can be eaten and it's quite expensive too. Remember, My Kitchen Snipper posted it once!
    Kristy

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  8. I wish I had known about the cinnamon and butter in the leftover pastry I would certainly have tried this.

    I'm pleased you liked the pie, did it vary much from the family recipe?

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  9. I love old fashioned apple pie too and your apple pie looks awesome! I remember I can eat it almost everyday when I was a young girl.

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  10. That is a STUNNING pie!! I never noticed - one brown/one green eye!

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  11. Nothing on earth beats a home made apple pie and yours looks like perfection. It has been along time; thank you for the reminder.
    Rita

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  12. YUMMY!!! See now if you would have joined the A-Z challenge you could have posted this today - D for Delicious!

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  13. Yum, this looks so good. I haven't made a pie since last summer.

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  14. one of my favorites, I can smell it baking.

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  15. This really looks wonderful. It's hard to beat an apple pie. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  16. This is a true success story. Good job.

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  17. Apple is my favorite pie and I make it all year long~forget about the seasons! Yours looks great, and I love the mini one with your leftovers. My mom made us cinnamon/sugar treats too!

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  18. Only Fish Recipes - thanks!

    Cool Lassi - I used a silicone brush that I use for BBQ, I probably should of use a pastry brush for the egg wash. Hope you join us!

    Catherine - thank you, it was easy enough.

    Bo - yes, I'm not always happy with Martha's recipes either. So you must have the same great memories of your mom making pies as I do!

    Bento bird - Jenn, you are too kind, so nice of you to say! I do have good memories of my grandma, and mother's pies.

    Reeni, thank you, I guess you need a stronger crust...hehe! The apples do sink down.

    Kristy - too funny! Tucker did have his nose up in the air checking it out when it was cooling...I need a pie safe! The cactus picture was taken after it was trimmed. I know the "prickly pear" fruit is edible, I'll check out my kitchen snippet. The other cactus has a fruit too, riminds me of the white fleshed dragonfruit.

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  19. Ann - I think I could eat it every day too!

    Belinda - I think that it's a relection that makes it look like one green eye.

    Rita, thanks it was nice to make a pie for no reason.

    Martha - Yes, you are right! You can use it! :D

    All Our Fingers in the Pie - last summer! Way too long! :D

    Jennifurla - you can't beat the smell of apple pie baking!

    Mary - thanks so much, you have a great day too!

    Comfy Cook - oh thanks!

    Rhindi - it's nice to have such "sweet" memories.

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  20. Oops...sorry Rhondi...slip of the finger!

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  21. I sprinkled the top of my pie with turbinado sugar and it made it pretty and crunchy. But I really like my crumb topped pie. Isn't it funny how we like what we grew up with?!? Your pie looks great though! My what a cactus tree! I didn't know they grew as trees. I learn something knew every day!

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