Monday, January 21, 2013

Brown Sugar Apple Pie for Inauguration Day


What dessert could possibly be better for Inauguration Day than one that's as American as apple pie?

It's even being served at today's official post-Inaugural lunch, which is offering the following dishes on its menu:

Steamed lobster with a New England clam chowder sauce
Grilled bison with a potato horseradish cake and a wild huckleberry reduction
Apple pie with sour cream ice cream
Cheese and honey

Whether your candidate won or not, it's time to move beyond partisanship and show up for the food. And to remember that, even if our favorites don't always win, we still have the privilege of being able to make a choice. That alone is worthy of a celebration!

And so, here's a simple pie sweetened with brown sugar and a bit of cinnamon - traditional and delicious. You, too, can eat like the dignitaries who have been invited to the party in Washington, D.C.!


Brown Sugar Apple Pie

Filling:
  • 5 pounds Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1-1/2" chunks
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons butter

Place all ingredients into a large saucepan, stir to combine well, and bring just to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 10 minutes 'til just tender, stirring once halfway through. Let cool while preparing crust.

Crust (slightly adapted from a recipe on Epicurious.com):
  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup shortening, at room temperature
  • 5-6 tablespoons (or more) ice water

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter and shortening, mixing with a fork until the mixture resembles meal. Add 5 tablespoons ice water, mixing until the dough starts to adhere and form a ball, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if still dry. Gather dough together; divide into 2 pieces, one a bit larger than the other. Form each piece into a ball; flatten into disks and wrap in plastic. Chill for 30 minutes.

Pie:
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 425F.

Take one portion of crust and roll to a 12" circle. Place into a 9" pie pan.

Pour filling into crust.

Roll remaining portion of crust into a 12" circle. Lay over pie filling, trim edges (leave a 1" overhang), fold edges of top crust under bottom crust, then crimp to seal. Cut small slits into the top of the pie.

Combine egg and water, and brush egg wash over the top pie crust. Sprinkle with the sugar.

Bake pie for 30 minutes, then lower heat to 350F and bake for 10-15 more minutes until filling is starting to bubble and crust is golden. Remove from oven and let cool.

Makes 1 pie.


8 comments:

Unknown said...

I think I'm in love..... apple pie has always been one of my favorites. I might not have passed up a slice of chocolate cream pie for it when I was a kid, but today I would be hard pressed to decide between the two :)

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I never was a pie eater till I was pregnant with my first child. I was craving apple pie for last 4 months of my pregnancy day & night. Now it is my favorite.

Cranberry Morning said...

Yeah, that menu would be welcome at my house, that's for sure! Lobster with clam chowder sauce? Oh yum!
And the pie...I suppose I could bake that pie, but it would be so nice to sit down and have someone place a piece in front of me. lol

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

did you know that the Obama's favorite dessert is PIE? AND...President Obama's absolute favorite dessert is APPLE PIE...according to Michelle with DOUBLE or TRIPLE CRUST!

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

also..what sounds SUPER interesting to me is the sour cream ice cream! Where in the world does one find THAT??!!

Candace said...

That is one gorgeous pie! I sure wish I had been invited to that lunch today. Yum!

Karen Harris said...

I am going to make a big confession here, but I am ashamed to say that I have never made an apple pie. I am always a bit intimidated about what type of apples to use, but this sounds so good that I'm jumping in. I'll let you know how it goes.

Miss Meat and Potatoes said...

Too perfect a recipe for such a wonderful day! And I adore honey crisp apples - lovely pie!


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