homemade apple pie

PIE!!   Is there anything better than homemade apple pie? I think not!
Though apples are available all year they somehow turn into a new level of amazing in the fall; something about the smell of turning leaves and crisp air iterrupted by smells of a freshly baked apple pie make the change of season something to look forward to. Dispite what anyone says, making pies from scratch isn't hard at all. In fact, once you try (and succeed) at making your own pasty crust, you may never go back!

This apple pie recipe is simple, easily customized, and an automatic homerun absolutely anytime! It's a decadent dessert, so prepare yourself.
A wise man once said:  "You may have to serve out cake, but people will come to you for pie."

So, wanna make your own?

Step 1 Ingredients

The easiest and best recipe I've found to making pie crusts are found on the back of lard and shortening packages. It's the most obvious place once you find it, but you'd be surprised to know that many people (obviously non-pasty makers) don't know the first thing about handling lard or shortening. Lard, as you may know, is rendered pig fat. It is similar in consistancy and textute to butter, and in fact used in many of the same applications as butter as a substitute. It's a common ingredient in many traditional pastry recipes and adds a unique flavour, butter may be substituted but it's somehow just not the same. 

Lard and shortening pastry recipes found on packaging may vary but all use the same basic ratio of ingredients, here's what I used:

• 6 cups cake and pastry flour (or 5 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 lb pure lard (or shortening)
• 1 tbsp  vinegar
• 1 egg
• cold water
• apples

You can use any kind of apple you like for this, but I like to make things a little different than the standard McIntosh variety. For this pie I used a mix of Granny Smith because they are tart, bitter and a little sour (just like me) and Gala as they are sweet and softer (also, like me). I've also been known to add a Yellow Asian or Bosc pear into the mix, because I like a little contraversy in my pie.

Other stuff you'll need:

• lemon juice
• vanilla extract
• milk (1-2%)
• sugar (any kind)
• rolling pin
• oven (preheated to 350 F), range, large pot
• baking dish (mine was 7"x11")

Comments

[lmnopeas]

Yummy! I just love it when a man bakes. Nice touch with the instructable robot!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Great pie!