Apple Pie

Creamy Apple Pie

This pie is affectionately nicknamed “Joy Pie” in our house, because the recipe came from Joy Rohde. The Rhode family farmed this land we now live on for over a hundred years. It’s the kind of pie that makes you happy, joyful. It’s one of our favorites because the filling is so simple to make and comes out perfectly creamy; no ice cream needed. Let this pie cool to room temperature before cutting since the filling will tend to slip out.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Lay apples in the pie crust.

Make a “syrup” (no cooking needed) by mixing the sugar, flour and vanilla. Add the milk and salt, then stir well. Sprinkle apples with cinnamon and dot with butter.

Pour syrup mixture over apples and bake one hour at 350 degrees or until apples are tender.

Yield: 8 servings.

Grandma Sue’s Pie Crust

John’s mom, Sue, reigns as champion pie baker in the family. “I just love pie,” says Sue. While you’ll encounter many variations on pie baking from various families, we’re loyal to ours.

Single Pie Ingredients (one 9 or 10-inch):

Double Crust Pie Ingredients (one 9 or 10-inch):

Directions:

Mix together flour and salt.

Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two butter knives until pieces are the size of small peas. To make pastry extra tender and flaky, divide shortening in half. Cut in first half until mixture looks like corn meal. Then cut in remaining half until like small peas.

Sprinkle 1 T. of the water over part of the flour-shortening mixture. Gently toss with fork; push to one side of bowl. Sprinkle next tablespoon of water over dry part; mix lightly. Mix gently until all is moistened.

Gather up with fingers; form into a ball. For two-crust pie, divide dough for upper and lower crust. Form each in ball.

On lightly floured surface, flatten ball slightly and roll to 1/8 inch thick. If edges split, pinch together. Always roll spoke-fashion, going from center to edge of dough. Use light strokes.

To bake single pie crust:

Transfer pastry to pie plate. Fit loosely onto bottom and sides. Trim ½ to 1 inch beyond edge. Fold under and flute.

If baked pie shell is needed, prick bottom and sides well with fork—to prevent puffing as shell bakes. Bake in 450 degree oven until pastry is golden, 10 to 20 minutes.

If filling and crust are to be baked together, do not prick pastry. Pour in filling; bake as directed in the pie recipe.