As American As Apple Pie

Two things seem to be quintessentially American…our democracy and apple pie 🙂
Today is the first Tuesday in November, a tradition known to Americans as election day.  It is a day when we demonstrate to the world what a true democracy looks like.    It is easy with all the distractions and difficulties of day to day life to think that our one vote isn’t important, doesn’t really matter, can’t really make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  But it does matter, and as those who are fortunate enough to live in this wonderful democracy, we have a responsibility not only to our country and ourselves, but to future generations.  The choices we make today will shape the way the future looks tomorrow for our children and our children’s children.  Today, as happens every election day, we have a voice, a rare chance to “speak out” about our highest sense of what is good and right for our country.

No matter for whom, or for what, you are casting your votes or what the outcome of this very important election is, we can celebrate the fact that we are blessed to have this freedom.  Today, when we engage in that democratic process that allows us to make our way freely and without fear to our local polling venues and cast our votes, more than any  other people on earth we should have hearts of gratitude and cause for celebration.

And as long as we are celebrating, why not celebrate this privilege and tradition with another American tradition …apple pie. Vote today no matter what, and if you are so inclined enjoy some apple pie in celebration 🙂

American Apple Pie

10-12 apples (Granny Smith, Gala, Macintosh)
1 – 1 1 /2 cups sugar (depending on the sweetness of the apples)
1/4 cup lemon juice ( juice of 2 lemons basically)
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 recipe pie dough

Cinnamon syrup

juice from sugared apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup water or apple juice

Make pie dough recipe as directed.   Form the dough into an oval and cut into 2 pieces.  A  1/3 piece and a 2/3 piece.  The 1/3 piece of the dough will be for the top crust, and the other piece that is 2/3 of the dough will be for the bottom crust.  Form each into a ball and then flatten into a disk.  Wrap each piece in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes while you prepare the apples.

Peel the apples.

Slice in half, core and then cut into quarters.  Slice each quarter thinly.
Combine all the apple slices in a bowl and add lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and flour.

Using your hands mix all of this together.  Allow to sit for about 7-10 minutes, while you prepare the pie crust.

Remove dough from refrigerator and roll the larger of the two pieces of dough into a large circle big enough to cover the bottom of a 10″ pie dish with some left on the edges to be trimmed.  (It is a bonus to have some extra little hands to help:)

Fit into pie plate and, using a knife or kitchen shears, trim away excess dough leaving about a 1″ overhang.
Fill crust with apples spooning out the apples and allowing any liquid to remain in the bowl.  Set liquid aside to be used for the cinnamon syrup.

Roll out the top crust dough and cover the apples.

Seal the edges of the dough together, turning the dough of the top crust under the dough of the bottom crust.

Using your fingers crimp the edges of the pie as shown.

Cut slits to allow the steam from the apples to have a place to vent.

Roll out the dough that was trimmed away and using decorative little cookie cutters or a paring knife, cut leaves and place them on top of the pie for decoration.  Dampen the backs of the dough leaves so that they will easily adhere to the top crust and stay in place during baking.  Sprinkle the top of the pie liberally with sugar.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until the top is nicely browned and you can see through the vents cut into crust that the filling is beginning to bubble.  Remove the pie from the oven and cool.

While pie is cooling, place the reserved juice from pie in a saucepan and add sugar, water or more apple juice, and corn starch and stir with a wire whisk to combine.  Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sauce is bubbling and begins to thicken.  If the sauce becomes too thick add a bit more water or juice.  Slice the pie, then top with warm cinnamon syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

You are bound to experience some love, joy and celebrate a feeling of abundant gratitude!