Classic Apple Pie

I love to bake different, interesting desserts with new recipes but sometimes it's good to go back to the basics.  I love apples and recently at Aldi, they have been on sale which makes me think I need to buy a couple bags every time I go in there.  Needless to say, I had apples everywhere and decided I needed to use the granny smiths for a pie.  I was just necessary ;)

Apple pie also makes me think of the holidays, I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving and being with family.  (Sister, I'm sorry I made your favorite pie while you were not here!) Anyway, let me know of your favorite holiday desserts and pies too!

Classic Apple Pie

 Start with 6-7 tart apples,

 peel the apples,

 then chop them

 into small slices

and place in a bowl

 add 2 Tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 

a couple pinches of nutmeg, and 1/4 cup brown sugar.

Mix together and let it set for a few minutes while making the dough.

 Prepare a basic pie crust , or you could also use a store bought crust but the real one is so much better and is pretty easy too when using a food processor. 

Start with 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 4 tablespoons shortening, 1 stick butter (slice butter and shortening into wedges)

 Pulse the mixture in a food processor until it looks like a course meal.  Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup cold water and pulse a few more times.

 Until the dough looks like this and you can form it into a ball. 

 Divide the dough into 2 pieces with a little more for the bottom crust

 Roll dough into a circle that is large enough for your pie dish.

 Place the first dough into the bottom of the dish, then add the apples.  I like to make sure the apples are pretty flat across the pie so there aren't lumps but that is purely optional and likely not important. 

 Place the top crust over the filling and seal the edges

 Bake at 400 degrees for 55-60 minutes.  

Enjoy with some vanilla bean ice cream!

Whole Wheat Bread 2

I am always looking for a good bread recipe, and it's fun to have several to go between.  This is in my list of favorites and what I really like is that it has some hidden nutrients that you wouldn't typically think of putting in bread such as: lecithin, wheat germ, and flax seed just to name a few.  It also has a nice soft texture which I always look for in wheat breads, they can just get so dry and hard after a couple days.

So this recipe makes 2 loaves, great for sharing with a friend or neighbor!

Whole Wheat Bread

2 cups warm water
1 package yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 Tablespoons oil
1 T. Lecithin (optional, but does help with a soft texture)
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons wheat germ
2 Tablespoons flax seed
1 Tablespoon vital wheat gluten (optional)
2 cups white bread flour
3 cups whole wheat flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add brown sugar, honey, oil, lecithin, & salt.   Mix, then add flour, wheat germ, gluten, and flax seed.  Knead for about 8 minutes, add flour as needed.  Let dough rise until doubled then divide into 2 loaves.  Let rise in the pans another 45 minutes - 1 hour.  Bake 375 for 1 hour.

Then enjoy some fresh baked bread on a cool fall evening, with a little melted butter!

On another note, I was excited last week at the grocery store to find fresh cranberries are back in season!  I was so disappointed last year when I realized they aren't sold year around.  I'm ready to bake this Cranberry Swirl Bread again, it's great for the holidays and really any reason you can come up with to make it!  So give it a try this season, it will probably become your favorite bread!