2004-11-25


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Wait a minute, this doesn't look right. Where's the plane? 

Today there was a whole lot of preparation for tonight's feast. (family's coming over) so I thought that it would be good to not work on the plane today. I the spirit of overeating, I decided to make an apple pie. My apple pies are famous in my family mostly because I talk about how good they are every chance I get but never make any (the last one I made was in 1979). So over the years they have become almost legendary. 

The decision to finally make one comes not without risk. Now there will be an actual tasting of the pie. A chance for someone to judge for themselves. The whole illusion can suddenly come crashing down never to be resurrected. Well, perhaps the time has come...

First the standard disclaimer...This web site and the information contained within it are for entertainment purposes only. The opinions expressed on baking techniques are my opinions only and should not be confused with proper baking techniques. There is undoubtedly more than one way to bake an apple pie and some methods that I use may or may not work in any given circumstance. If there is any question please call Betty Crocker. I love to help but I am not responsible for the misuse of any information contained on this web site.

I start by getting everything ready beforehand. 

I put the crisco in the bowl and dump a bunch of flour over the top of it. Then I cut it all in with a pastry knife until it starts to look mealy and the pieces are a little bigger than buckshot. Then I add water one teaspoon at a time and keep on tossing it with the pastry knife until it looks like it's going to stick to the pan. If it starts to look like axle grease you've added way too much water. 
Then I ball it up. See how clean the bowl is? That's what you want.
Now, I take about 2/3 of the ball and roll it out until it's real flat. I'm trying to get it to be about 2 inches in diameter bigger than the pie plate after cutting all of the cracked part off. 

Pie are square? no, Pie are round - cakes are square.

Now I cut up all of the apples. One of the rules of making apple pie is that you have to cut up all of the apples yourself using a regular knife. None of these automatic peelers and food processors. You do it yourself or just go to the store and buy the whole pie already done.
Now I put sugar, flour, a little salt, cinnamon, nutmeg stuff like that into a bowl. Add all of the apples and then mix it up with your hands.
Dump that whole mess in on top of the crust and then roll out the top crust.
OK, here it is. I've even riveted the top crust on to the bottom.

Have a good thanksgiving everyone. See you tomorrow.