Apple Pie from Scratch

It's that time a year when people go apple picking.  I wish I could say I picked the apples for this recipe, but making this pie from scratch was enough.  And it's organic! It's a shame that Andrew won't eat apple pie because this one came out so well.  It went fast! You can buy the crust from the store but if not, use my flaky pastry recipe.

Flaky Pastry Dough Recipe(for one 9' pie crust)
1 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable shortening or butter, semi-chilled
1/4 cup ice water (yes, it has to be cold!)

Country-Style Apple Dish
 (usually I use this part as a guide)
*the key is using several different kinds of apples so that the flavor is intense

 6 medium cooking apples
3/4 or 1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of lemon juice (if i'm out I use orange)
1/4 tsp or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 425:
-Prepare pastry into pie
In a separate bowl, stir diced up apples, juice, sugar, spices, salt and toss nicely
After it's all spread into the pie crust, dot with butter and add any more dough strips or designs. 
*Bake at 425 for 15-20 minutes, then reduce oven to 350 and bake another 25 minutes (approx)
*This is important because if you forget to turn the oven down your pie will be VERY dried out. 

If you want your crust to come out shiny, make an equal parts mixture of milk and sugar and 'paint' the liquid on the pie crust.  Serve finished pie with vanilla ice cream and you're good to go!

yummmy!  It makes a nice breakfast pie too!