Mom's Best Apple Pie

Is there any more favorite pie in America than apple pie? 

Well, I don't know the exact statistics for the answer to that question, but I do know this one thing. My mother makes the best apple pie you've ever tasted.  {smiles} 

This is truth in our family's opinion at least, and I won't argue with you if your mom makes the best apple pie {grin} Truly apple pie is near and dear to all of our hearts, I think.  But if you will allow me, I'd like to share with you my mother's best recipe for apple pie.  I think you might love it just as much as we do. {smiles}

The trick to my mom's pie is right here in this little pot!  You mix the sugar, butter spices and a bit of water together, and bring it to a boil, and then cool slightly. 

While the sugar solution is cooling, peel and slice the apples ~ about 4-5 cups of apples is perfect for a 9" pie.

Roll out your favorite pie crust and place it into the 9" pie plate.  Add a layer of apples in the bottom of the pan, and then drizzle 1/3 of the sugar mixture over the apples.

Continue with two more layers of sugar and spice mixture over the apples.

And you may have to refrain yourself from eating the apples just like this! {smiles}

Here is Mom's recipe published in their church cookbook.

Just out of the oven...

The melting together of the sugar, spices and butter that coats the apples served warm from the oven with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream becomes a marriage made in sugar's own heaven.



And of course, don't forget a hot cup of cinnamon tea as the perfect accompaniment to this delight.

I like to make my own cinnamon tea... it is as easy as can be!



To a simmering pot of water on the stove (about 4 cups of water) add 1-2 sticks cinnamon, 4-5 whole cloves,1-2 anise, a tablespoon of sugar, a dash of nutmeg, and a splash of vanilla.  Simmer until your house begins to smell like cinnamon tea... and then you know it is ready.  (An added bonus is that your house smells as good as the tea tastes!) You can add cream and sugar if desired, but I like mine just as it is.  






On a cold wet wintry day, this hot cinnamon tea, and tender apple pie served up as an afternoon treat is the perfect way to enjoy the weather, from the inside looking out.



The snow lasted on the ground for an hour or so and then it was gone.  Just a sprinkle to let us know more is on its way!

And while the taste of winter is on our doorstep, I want to share some pictures of fall that my  precious mother took while she was home last month visiting her mother and family in northeastern Canada.   May they serve up one last hurrah for fall!

Oh be still my heart!  What joy to see the beauty of fall in all its splendor through the eyes of my mother's camera.

Lovely views of the rolling farmland with the coat of many colors adorning the treed hills beyond.

Beautiful colors of the fall that was incredibly lovely this year.  Many people said this year in the northeast was the most vibrant it had been in years, and I have to agree.

And here we have the most beautiful collection of fall's bountiful beauty!  Can you see who is hiding in this picture?

If you guessed my beautiful mother, you are right!  She and some of her nieces went out and played in the leaves.  The girls piled the leaves up around her, and then took some fun pictures.  I will treasure this picture always of my mother (her face is blurred to protect privacy). She knows how to have fun!   My heart was so thrilled and overjoyed to hear of the joy she experienced, enjoying the beauty of the falling leaves and having such a special time with her nieces.  I wish I could have been there too :)  We were blessed to enjoy a beautiful fall here too, but it was a special joy for me to see the glorious colors from up north too.

Below is the recipe for Mom's Best Apple Pie, and Cinnamon Tea.

MOM'S BEST APPLE PIE

Pastry for 9" double pie (recipe below)
Peeled, sliced apples (about 4-5 cups)
3/4 cup white or brown sugar (I used brown sugar)
3 Tablespoons water
1 tsp flour
1 Tablespoon butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Mix sugar, water, flour, butter and spices together in small pot.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let cool.  Prepare apples.  Place bottom pie crust in pan, and put 1/3 apples in pan.  Pour 1/3 sugar mixture over the apples, and repeat with two layers of sugar and apples.  Place pie crust over all and finish edges of pie.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes (or until apples are fork tender). Let cool for 1 hour. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

MOM'S BEST PIE CRUST

5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups lard (1 pound)
1 egg
4 tsp vinegar
ice water

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Blend lard into flour mixture until mixture resembles small peas.  Beat egg in measuring cup, add vinegar, and enough ice water to make 3/4 cup.  Blend vinegar mixture into flour a little at a time until well mixed, adding only enough liquid until dough clings together.  Gather into a ball, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes before rolling out.  Makes 6 pie crusts.

CINNAMON TEA

1-2 cinnamon sticks (broken in half to fit into pan)
4-5 cups water
5 whole cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all together in small pot, and let simmer until the house smells like cinnamon.  Can be served with cream and sugar, or as is.  Enjoy with apple pie :)