My first attempt at a pie crust without mom or auntie by my side. Although I tried to pay close attention when Aunt Linda was making a pie crust recently, it seems not have "sunk in". This was one of the most, if not the most, difficult experiences I've had in the kitchen.
This was the easy part:
Thank goodness noone was home because I would have taken my many frustrations out on them due to this horrible pie crust experience. The directions below suggest rolling out the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Don't believe everything you read! Although I've never seen anyone roll out dough this way, I thought "hey, this sounds like a great idea! No rolling pin sticking to dough!" Although my logic was flawless, the ease at which I was expecting to get the dough rolled and placed in the pie tin didn't exactly happen. After rolling out the dough, the plastic wrap wouldn't release from the dough and instead made a horrible broken mess.
After screaming out loud, I threw the crust still on the plastic wrap in the fridge and grabbed the other dough disk to make attempt #2. This time, I just floured the counter and the rolling pin and slowly rolled the dough out. It broke at first, so I added a few drops of water and formed the disk again. I finally rolled the dough and folded it in half. Getting it into the pie tin wasn't as easy as I had planned. A large portion of it broke but I decided I was NOT going to start over again so I just patched it up and threw it in the fridge.
Not Pretty!
After throwing in the apple mixture and rolling out the 2nd dough (re-formed from the first disaster), it was pretty tricky pinching the 2 crusts together.
I was amazed that I was able to get the 2nd dough on top of the pie without screaming this time! I tried to flute the 2 crusts together but the top crust kept braking. I just kept repairing as I went along and eventually arrived at something that looked oddly enough like an apple pie! Success!!
Sort of... We'll have a taste test at my supper club tomorrow.
In conclusion, this pie was so much more complicated than I could ever have imagined! Apple crisps are a million times easier! It's true that there's something about the way a pie looks though... it brings me back home.
Below is a mix of 2 recipes:
http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/pages/c00119.asp
http://www.ochef.com/r126.htm
For the crust:
8 oz. (1 cup) cold unsalted butter
9 oz. (2 cups) all-purpose unbleached flour
1/4 cup sugar (I used less than this bc most recipes don't call for sugar...)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup cold water
For the filling:
2-1/2 pounds baking apples (about 6 medium), peeled, cored and sliced 1/4-inch inch thick (I used 1/2 granny smith and 1/2 golden delicious)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar (I used splenda here)
1/2 to 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cornstarch
how to make
For the crust:
Food processor method:
Cut the butter into small (about 3/4-inch) cubes. Wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it until frozen solid, at least 30 minutes. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in a reclosable gallon-size freezer bag and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Place the flour mixture in a food processor with the metal blade and process for a few seconds to combine. Set the bag aside.
Add the frozen butter cubes and pulse until none of the butter is larger than the size of a pea. (Toss with a fork to see it better.) Remove the cover and add the water. Pulse until most of the butter is reduced to the size of small peas. The mixture will be in particles and will not hold together. Divide the mixture in half and spoon each half into a plastic bag.
Holding both ends of the bag opening with your fingers, knead the mixture by alternately pressing it, from the outside of the bag, with the knuckles and heels of your hands until the mixture holds together in one piece and feels slightly stretchy when pulled. Repeat with the second bag.
Wrap the dough with plastic wrap, flatten it into discs, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes, preferably overnight. (For a pie shell and lattice, divide it in a ratio of two thirds: one third — use about 9.5 ounces for the shell and the rest for the lattice, flattening the smaller part into a rectangle.)
For the pie:
Remove the dough for the bottom crust from the refrigerator. If necessary, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes or until it is soft enough to roll.
On a floured pastry cloth or between two sheets of lightly floured plastic wrap, roll the bottom crust 1/8 inch thick or less and 12 inches in diameter. Transfer it to the pie pan. Trim the edge almost even with the edge of the pan. Cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 3 hours.
In a large bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and toss to mix. Allow the apples to macerate at room temperature for minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of 3 hours.
Transfer the apples and their juices to a colander suspended over a bowl to capture the liquid. The mixture will release at least 1/2 cup of liquid.
In a small saucepan (preferably lined with a nonstick surface), over medium-high heat, boil down this liquid, with the butter, to about 1/3 cup (a little more if you started with more than 1/2 cup of liquid), or until syrupy and lightly caramelized. Swirl the liquid but do not stir it. (Alternatively, spray a 4-cup heatproof measure with nonstick vegetable spray, add the liquid and butter, and boil it in the microwave, 6 to 7 minutes on high.) Meanwhile, transfer the apples to a bowl and toss them with the cornstarch until all traces of it have disappeared.
Pour the syrup over the apples, tossing gently. (Do not be concerned if the liquid hardens on contact with the apples; it will dissolve during baking.)
Roll out the top crust large enough to cut a 12-inch circle. Use an expandable flan ring or a cardboard template and a sharp knife as a guide to cut the circle.
Transfer the apple mixture to the pie shell. Moisten the border of the bottom crust by brushing it lightly with water and place the top crust over the fruit. Tuck the overhang under the bottom crust border and press down all around the top to seal it. Crimp the border using a fork or your fingers and make about 5 evenly spaced 2-inch slashes starting about 1 inch from the center and radiating toward the edge. Cover the pie loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 1 hour before baking to chill and relax the pastry. This will maintain flakiness and help to keep the crust from shrinking.
Preheat the oven to 325°F (220°C) at least 20 minutes before baking. Set an oven rack at the lowest level any place a baking stone or baking sheet on it before preheating. Place a large piece of greased foil on top to catch any juices.
Set the pie directly on the foil-topped baking stone and bake for 1.5-2 hrs or until the juices bubble through the slashes and the apples feel tender but not mushy when a cake tester or small sharp knife is inserted through a slash.
