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| This thing weighed a whopping 4.5 lbs at the end…hence "Epic" in the name |
Being super kitsch-tastic, I adorned the top of the pie with mini leaves, cut from a vintage canapé cutter set that I acquired last summer when visiting a friend in Minneapolis.
To jazz the pastry up a bit, I added some finely-ground locally sourced and milled corn meal. I find that this adds fluff, a subtle flavor, as well as a nice yellow-tint and great texture. The pasty is made in the traditional way, as noted in the pumpkin pie post and rhubarb pie post. Only this time, a layer of pastry blankets the top of the pie, creating a golden dome of flakey-awesomeness.
This pie would be fabulous for thanksgiving, or for just eating for pleasure. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you're in business. Now, gather your apples and make some pastry-and make this pie!
Apple Pie with Cornmeal Crust
Makes one, 10" pie
Ingredients:
For the Filling:
2.5
pounds apples, peeled, cored, quartered and cut into 1/3” wide by 1” long
slices
2 TB
butter, cubed
1 TB
cinnamon
1
teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
zest and
juice of one lemon
¼ teaspoon
salt
2 TB
honey
2/3 cup
brown sugar
3 TB tapioca,
finely ground
For the Pastry:
2 1/4 cups
unbleached, all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
¼ cup finely
ground cornmeal
2 sticks
chilled butter, cubed
½ teaspoon
salt
¼ cup ice
water
¼ cup
vodka
1 egg and
1 TB water, for egg wash
Equpiment:
Cutting board
Paring knife
Two large bowls, one for filling and one for pastry
Measuring cups and spoons
Pastry cutter or fork
Sifter
Rolling pin
Pastry brush
Baking sheet
Method:
Make the filling by combining the cut apples with
the diced butter, spices, lemon zest and juice, honey, brown sugar, salt and
tapioca. Mix well, set aside. Can be made up to 1 day in advance. Store in the
fridge, tightly covered with plastic wrap touching the surface of the apples.
Make the pastry by sifting the dry ingredients.
Finley grind the cornmeal in a food processor or a coffee grinder/spice mill.
Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork, ½ at a time, combining the
second portion a bit less for larger clumps. Sprinkle over the water and vodka,
and mix with a fork or a pastry cutter until the pastry comes together, and
sticks together when squeezed in hand. Scoop the pastry on a well-floured
surface, and form into a disc. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill
overnight.
Preheat the oven to 425F. Remove filling (if made in advance) and pastry from
fridge, allow to come to room temp. Cut the pastry in half, making once half
slightly larger than the other; this will be the bottom crust. Roll out the
bottom crust to fit into a 10” diameter pie plate or tin. Fit and trim the
edges for a 1” overhang. Scoop in the apple filling.
 |
| A mountain of apples, with flakey-cornmeal pastry. |
Roll out the top pastry,
and trim for a 1” overhang. Match-up the bottom and top overhangs, pressing
together slightly, then folding under to make a neat edge. Flute the edges as
desired. Poke 8 steam vents in any design in the center of the pie.
If desired, make decorations in autumnal shapes from the reserved
pastry (above). Scoring the backs of the shapes with a paring knife and dipping in the
egg wash will secure them to the top of the pie. Brush the entire top with egg
wash with a pastry brush, or you could use your fingers if you are lacking a pastry brush.
 |
| Ready for the oven! |
Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake at 425F for 25 minutes, then reduce to 375F
and bake for 35-54 minutes longer, until the top pastry is golden and filling
is bubbling.
Cool, and serve as desired.
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