Sweet Bloomin Scraps

Valentine Apple Pie

My mother was absolutely the best pie maker in the world....apple, rhubarb, raisin, peach, lemon, cherry, coconut cream, banana cream...well, I don't think I can name all of them.

My husband has been wanting my apple pie for some time now. So I finally decided to make it for him for Valentine's Day! Well, it was a big hit.

I always make my pie in a 9X13 pyrex dish. Then I decorate it according to the holiday. Thanksgiving is a turkey...Christmas is usually holly and berries.....just whatever I decide to try.

This time I added a little cinnamon and sugar on the heart.

My mom had a wonderful crust recipe that she made by feel...I use to know how to make it the way she did...However, I found that if I wasn't making it on a consistent basis, my crust was not flaky like hers. So I finally resolved myself to using the following pie crust. It is a winner and works every time.
Never Fail Pie Crust
Mix together with pastry blender: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup shortening, 1 teaspoon salt.
Add to first mixture: 1 beaten egg, 1/4 cup water, 1 Tablespoon vinegar
Mix together with fork.
This recipe is perfect for a 9X13 dish or three 9" rounds. If rolled very thin you may get four rounds. Sometimes I just make a baby pie for the kids! They love it!
My favorite tool for making apple pie is the Apple Corer Slicer Peeler by Pampered Chef. A real time saver....you just have to remember to buy firm apples. When buying golden delicious apples, I look for the greenest apples I can find. If they are yellow, they are too soft for this tool and you will have to peel, core and slice by hand.
Judi's Apple Pie Filling
10-12 golden delicious apples....sometimes I throw in an apple or two that is getting too soft to eat...any variety.
1 cup brown sugar
3-4 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon plus of cinnamon
1 teaspoon plus of nutmeg
2-3 Tablespoons of melted butter
Mix together and pour into 9X13 dish prepared with bottom crust. Cover with top crust. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees.
Enjoy!