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Happy Fourth of July

In honor of the 4th, today's recipes will be of a patriotic theme -- and not low calorie!

Traditional Apple Pie

Start by making the "perfect pie crust" (from the Methodist Women's Cookbook):

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Ice water

Cut shortening into flour and salt mixture until crumbs are course and granular.

Add 3 - 6 tablespoons ice water, a little at a time. Mix quickly and evenly through the flour until the dough just holds together.

Roll half the dough to about 1/8" thickness. Lift edge of pastry cloth and roll crust onto rolling pin. Line the pie pan, allowing 1/2" inch crust to extend over edge.

Filling:

  • 3 tablespoons butter (cubed)
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
  • Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste
  • 7 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • Egg wash (for brushing)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (for sprinkling)

Mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a small bowl. In another bowl, sprinkle apples with the juice of 1 lemon and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples.

Mound the apple and sugar mixture into the pie pan lined with dough.

Roll out top crust, making a pattern of knife cuts to allow escape of steam. Place over filling. Fold the topc crust over the lower and crimp edges. Brush with egg wash, sprinkle with sugar and cinamon.

Bake in pre-heated 450 F oven for 45 minutes. Let stand for 20 minutes before cutting.

Serve ala mode.

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