Lattice Apple Pie

Who doesn't love a good ol' homemade apple pie?? Furthermore, who doesn't love a PRETTY, homemade, lattice apple pie??

The recipe in itself is very easy...it's really the lattice design that's a little harder to tackle. But with a little practice and patience, all will be well in due time, my friend!



INGREDIENTS:

2 homemade pie crusts (recipe here) or you may use store bought as well

4 large granny smith apples

3/4 cup of sugar (may use 1 cup if you like it sweeter)

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

1/8 tsp of nutmeg

2 pinches of salt


FOR THE CORNSTARCH SLURRY:

the juice from half a lemon

1 Tablespoon of cornstarch


FOR THE EGG WASH:

1 egg white mixed with some milk or water


ADDITIONAL ITEMS NEEDED:

Wax or parchment paper

foil

Ruler



INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Peel and slice up your apples paper thin, and place them into a large mixing bowl. Add in your sugar, cinnamon, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix, very well.
2. Make your cornstarch slurry, and mix until smooth. Add your slurry into your bowl, and toss to coat. Set aside.
3. Remove one of your homemade pie crust and flour your work surface. Give your dough a few whacks using your rolling pin, and when slightly softened, roll out your dough to fit your pie dish (not too thin, but not too thick either). You will have excess dough, but don't toss that! You can easily roll the scraps back up, flatten it out into a disc, and place it into the freezer for later use. Set your pie dish to the side.
4. Remove your top pie crust from the fridge and repeat the same process when rolling it out. Roll out your dough into at least a 14 inch circle to make sure you have enough strips for your lattice design. Place your rolled out pie crust onto a piece of wax paper. Place your ruler in the middle of your dough, and mark by the centimeter (or larger) where you would need to cut your strips. If your crust has softened too much, place the whole thing into your freezer for 15 minutes before cutting.
5. Using your pizza cutter (or sharp knife), slice your strips. Remove every other strip, and place them to the side to ensure that you have enough long strips, to go across the middle of the pie.
6. Pour your apple pie filling into your baking dish and flatten it out.
7. Start by placing one of your longest strips in middle of your pie, HORIZONTALLY. Follow by adding more strips, horizontally, making sure that you evenly space them out.
8. Next, peel back every other horizontal strip.
9. Place one of your longest pieces VERTICALLY, making sure it's tucked in nice and tight, next to the peeled back strips.
10. Flatten out your peeled back pieces, up and over your horizontal piece.
11. This time, go back and peel back the horizontal pieces, that you didn't do previously. (For example, if you peeled back the 1st, 3rd, and 5th strips before, this time you will peel back the 2nd, 4th, and 6th strip.)
12. Add another long strip of pie crust, vertically, tuck it in tightly again, and repeat process.
13. Trim any excess dough as needed, and crimp your dough to create a crust. Place a baking sheet under your pie to catch any filling that may bubble over during baking.
14. Brush the top of your pie using an egg wash, and lightly foil your crust.
15. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and move your oven rack to the lowest rack possible.
16. Bake for 10 minutes, lower to 375 degrees F, and continue to bake for another 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. REMOVE YOUR FOIL after about 30-35 minutes, or when you see the tops beginning to brown.
17. Let pie cool for at least 2-4 hours to allow the filling to set.

Rustic Apple Tart

Who doesn't love fall?? It's probably one of my favorite seasons, EVER. I just love everything about it; fall leaves, rain, apples, and pumpkins.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Today's recipe is an easy, rustic apple tart, packed with tons of flavor!

INGREDIENTS:

1 homemade pie crust (get the recipe here)

3 golden delicious apples, peeled and thinly sliced

1/3 cup of sugar

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp of ground nutmeg

pinch of salt

the juice from half a lemon

1 Tbsp of cornstarch

For the egg wash:

1 egg white mixed with a bit of water

You will also need:

raw sugar/turbinado sugar

melted butter (you may use apple or apricot jelly, microwaved until spreadable)



INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

1. Place your apples into a mixing bowl. Add in your sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and salt. Gently, toss to coat.

2. Put your lemon juice into a small mixing bowl, along with your cornstarch. Whisk until smooth. Pour this mixture onto your sliced apples, and toss to coat. Set aside.

3. Remove your pie crust from the refrigerator, and place it on a large piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle a little flour over your pie crust, and also on your rolling pin. Using the rolling pin, give your pie crust a few whacks to soften it a bit. Start at the center of your dough, and then work your way outwards to the edge. Slightly rotate your crust, and begin the same process, again and again, until your pie crust is about a 16 inch circle, that's no more than 1/4 thick.

4. Transfer your parchment paper, along with the dough, onto a large baking sheet.

5. Arrange your apples onto your dough, making sure to leave a 1/2 inch border to allow for the folding over of the crust. (If you are taking the time to neatly assemble your apple slices, make sure to pour the juices from the apple mixture last, to prevent a soggy crust)

6. Fold the dough, up and over the apples to create a pie crust.

7. Brush the crust with your egg wash and sprinkle it some raw sugar.

8. Stir the juices from your apple mixture and pour it over your assembled apples.

9. Bake for about 45-50 minutes, rotating half way through, until your crust is golden brown.

10. Fresh out of the oven, brush some melted butter (or apricot jelly) over your apple tart.

11. Allow the apple tart to cool slightly on the baking sheet, and then place it on a wire rack to cool completely or serve warm with some ice cream and/or whipped cream.