"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."-Carl Sagan
With Thanksgiving here, pie baking is in full swing in our home. I usually bake a pumpkin pie (using this easy tried-and-true recipe) for Thanksgiving and call it a day, but this year I thought it was time to venture out into some other traditional fall pies. I am trying my hand at a pecan pie for the first time tonight and earlier this fall, I experimented with making an apple pie using this recipe for the first time. The results were delicious and I highly recommend it for your Thanksgiving meal or really any meal. Just be prepared to dedicate lots of time and love. Think of it as your personal contribution to the slow living movement.
Here a few basic tips for pie baking that might be helpful:
--This is the recipe for the perfect pie crust. It never (I mean never) fails.
--Never underestimate the power of a pie shield, especially for fruit pies that require a higher temperature at the beginning of baking. (If you look closely at my apple pie slice, there is no crust. Let's just say I had not made friends with a pie shield yet.) Here is a technique for making one out of foil or you can buy this one which I now use that works really well.
--When making apple pie, know your apples. It makes a big difference between mushy baby food apple filling and delicious apple pie. Try a combination of Granny Smith and Fuji.
--Also, five common mistakes to avoid when making pies.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
-SD
