Apple Pies and Unpacking

Greetings from Michigan! So, so much fun to see friends and do silly things. 

Robinette's Apple Haus & Winery

I was inspired to make an apple pie for Memorial Day, partly because apple pie seems so American and patriotic and also because my mom told me she needed a pie crust used up. Usually, I make my own (its actually pretty easy), but for this I just made the top.

Apple Pie (or Tart, depending on how you do the crust)
{ingredients} 
-5 or 6 apples, I usually use a mix of Granny Smith, Gala, and Michigan
-1/2 cup sugar
-1 tbs lemon juice
-1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
-pinch of ginger, nutmeg & allspice
-pie crust**
{directions}
heat oven to 350 F
cut apples (peeled and cored) into small pieces. coat with sugar, lemon juice, and spices. let sit 15 min. then do (a) or (b). not both!

(a) for a pie, place filling in crust in pie pan. if you're using two doughs (one base and one top) then make knife slits in the top (to relieve pressure and to look fancy). 

(b) if you're using one, then you're making a tart. fold the filling in the center of the dough and wrap the dough around it--it won't cover it completely. place on a baking sheet.

brush the top with cream. bake for an hour, give or take, checking on it regularly to make sure nothing has exploded.

Finished product!
(I need a better camera)

**Pie Crust
I got this recipe off of a show on Food Network and it was very snappily called "Pate Sucree", which I'm assuming is French for "pie crust". I was only there for a week, so I never delved into baking terms. Anyhow.
{ingredients}
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tbs sugar
1/8 tsp salt
7 tbs butter (i usually use less though)
3 tbs water
{directions}

Mix flour, sugar, salt. Add in small bits of chopped butter with a mixer (or by hand, if you have time to kill and a masochistic streak). Once the butter is incorporated, add water a tablespoon at a time until a dough forms. And you'll know when it forms. You're just mixing along and all of a sudden you have this giant dough ball.
Roll it out on a floured surface (this is a great time to get some use out of your rolling pin!) and then wrap in plastic and stick it in the fridge for about twenty minutes.