Thankful for Apple Pie and Good Times

It is finally fall in Texas! It is crazy that we went from shorts and 80's to sweats in a matter of a few days. And can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving break? We are excited and breaking out all the fall goodies at once.  Hot Chocolate? Sure! Chicken and Dumplings? Yep.  Apple Pie? Oh yes!! 

The original plan this week was to do a tutorial on a how to make one super delicious apple pie, like real good y'all.  I had never even had an apple pie until I decided one day that I wanted to make one. They never looked very appetizing at the grocery store or the family get-togethers. All bland dough and cold.  However, I LOVE cinnamon apples.  I am pretty sure cinnamon apples is the reason my daughter was hooked, for almost a year, on going to eat at Boston Market after her gymnastics class.

So what does one do when they want to bake?  Search the Internet!  I am not a one recipe and done kind of girl.  I read several, pay attention to the differences in the recipes, read reviews and suggestions, and combine some things to make my own.  Or, I get too tired from all the hard work and give up! Ha!  I am so glad that I followed through and made my first ever apple pie because after one bite I was hooked.  My family feels the same way.  We love apple pie!  We were so excited for the end result that we only remembered to take one picture, the finished product while waiting for the oven to finish pre-heating. So much for a picture tutorial. We did not even remember an after picture, we were ready to add that scoop of ice cream and dig into that hot delicious, straight out of the oven apple pie.  Yum, Yum!

When deciding on the recipe, I knew right away that I wanted to use a pre-made crust.  We use Pillsbury around here, easy and delicious.  I also noticed that the addition to brown sugar to the pie seemed to make reviewers really happy, so I made sure to add it to ours.  I am also a lazy baker, meaning we don't peel the apples.  I think we did one time, but we prefer the skin on.  It keeps the apple pie from being too sweet. Granny Smith Apples are the best to use, they don't get super mushy and let's face it, they are scrumptious. 

The Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2-2.5 lbs of Granny Smith Apples (5 or 6 Apples)
• 1 Cup of White Sugar
• 1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup of All-Purpose Flour
• 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon of Butter
• 1 Teaspoon of Sugar
• 1 9 Inch, double Pie Crust (We Use Pillsbury)

Directions:

1. Wash, Remove the Core, and Slice your Apples
2. Toss Apples Pieces with Both Sugars, Flour, & Cinnamon
3. Place Pie Crust in the bottom of a 10 inch pie pan
4. Turn in Apple Mixture, Dot With Butter
5. Place Pie Crust On Top and Crimp Edges with Your Fingers
6. Place Three Small Slits in the Top
7. Wet Hands and Place on Top of Pie, this will help the sugar stick
8. Sprinkle the Top of the Pie With Sugar
9. Bake at 450 for 15 Minutes, Reduce Heat and Cook at 350 for an additional 45 Minutes

 Tips: You might want to place a piece of foil or a pan on the rack beneath your pie.  Also, if the edges brown too much, just top the pie with aluminum foil and let it continue to cook. 

 The One Picture: 

It is so simple to make that the oven had not even finished pre-heating 

You know this pie would be perfect to bring to that Thanksgiving Dinner. Have you guys seen our Thanksgiving Party Decor?