Cue the cool crisp air, the ombre leaves falling from the trees, the oversized sweaters and boots, the smell of fireplaces in the evening. Autumn is here.
I vividly remember the first time my family went to pick apples at a local farm.
It was a quick trip before my husband had to travel out of town. I had a new toddler and a new baby. I remember the smell of the air, the taste of their homemade caramel apple ice cream, the joy that my family felt picking the best apples to bring home, and my son’s desperation to eat any bright red apple that he saw in his path. It will be a memory that remains, and one that is so simple it shouldn’t be real.
When we all got home that day, I had bags of green and red apples, and I had no clue where to put them or what to do with them.
“Make a pie”, I told myself. Although, I hate pie and I’ve never attempted a pie.
But, make a pie, I did. I found a trusty recipe from a family cookbook and rummaged through my cabinets to see what I needed and what I already had on hand. I made the list of what we needed, and my little ones and I went off to the store. It’s a simple recipe, I say that now…
It’s time-consuming to make your own apple pie filling, I found that out quickly. Wash the apples. Core the apples. Peel the apples. Cut the apples. Mix the apples. Spread the apples. Now, the creative side of me didn’t want a plain old pie. I needed it to be a real apple pie, lattice crust and all. So, to Pinterest, I went. It took two tries to get it right, but it was finally time for the egg wash and time to throw it in the oven to bake.
The aroma was the epitome of fall. The candles we spend dollars on. The decorations we put up around the house. The ambiance we so desperately crave during this season. This apple pie was it. This apple pie will forever be it. I’m so glad I took the plunge that day and intently set my heart on making an apple pie that I knew I wouldn’t even touch (I did try the glaze and it was phenomenal). This apple pie is a memory that starts with my family at the orchards and ends with my family at the dinner table enjoying a freshly baked piece of pie.
Try it for yourself!
Ingredients:
- 2 unbaked pie crusts (room temperature)
- 8 medium green apples, peeled and sliced
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1tsp cinnamon
- 1 dash of nutmeg
- 1tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp stick butter, cubed
- 1 egg for egg wash brushing
- A few sprinkles of sugar for the crust
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Mix together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg
3. Toss apples in mixture
4. Press 1 pie crust into a 9-inch pie pan
5. Fill crust with apple mixture
6. Drizzle lemon juice over and place cubed butter on apples
7. Place 2nd pie crust onto the top of the pie pan and cut three vent holes in the center
8. Brush egg wash over top of pie and sprinkle with sugar
9. Bake for 50-55 minutes
10. Let cool before slicing, top with vanilla ice cream
Enjoy!
