Miss American Pie
Who doesn’t love America? Well, probably some people but that’s a topic for a different author.
What’s not to love? When I think of America, I typically think of the following: baseball, apple pie, celebrations of all kinds… and that one liberating benefit, freedom. See what I did there?
People have been coming to America, the land of opportunity, for centuries. For many, it meant beginning a new life with a bright hope for the future. With Independence Day quickly approaching, it makes me appreciate America’s finest qualities for which I am grateful.
I continued searching for inspiration and was hoping to find some fun and fresh ideas for entertaining that I could share with you. However, I could not get apple pie out of my mind. What could be more American than apple pie?! As it turns, out…a lot of things are more American. Who knew? I certainly didn’t. Apple pie originated in parts of Europe and we can thank the French for introducing the lattice-style crust. It eventually made its way to North America in the early 17th century. We have since adopted it as America’s favorite dessert. But is anything truly American? We all immigrated here from somewhere else and have brought with us culture, food, and traditions to be shared.
With that being said, I have a marvelous apple pie recipe from my family that I would like to share with you. I’m not entirely sure which continent it actually derived from, but my family hails from Ireland and according to my research, the apple pie did not. Either way, here it is for you to enjoy on this most patriotic of days.
My Grandma’s Apple Pie
Use with your favorite pie crust recipe because I can‘t do all the work for you! (But really, it’s because I don’t have hers.) Just be sure to make enough for two crusts.
Ingredients:
6 medium apples sliced thin
Granny Smith and Golden Delicious
I use three of each because the Golden Delicious are very sweet and soft, while the Granny Smith provides a little more bite.
¼ cup of brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 Tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tbsp butter
* Preheat oven to 450˚
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix. Pour dry ingredients over apples and turn over gently to coat all the apples.
Add mixture to pastry lined pie plate. Perhaps a red, white and blue one would be fitting?
Dot filling with the 2 tbsp butter
Cover filling with a layer of rolled pastry dough (If you want to get fancy, make a French lattice-style top)
Brush top with cream (I use half/half)
Sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture (3 parts sugar to 1 part cinnamon)
Cooking Time:
Bake for 10 minutes at 450˚
Turn temperature down to 375˚ and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes
Let pie cool to room temperature before serving
There you have it! Originally American or not, this pie will taste just perfect à la mode and with a side of freedom. If any of you have any recipes to share, I would love to feature them in future blog posts for Couleur Nature & Caravan Home!
Happy 4th of July!
