The Vicious Babushka: It's Pie Day! All-American Apple Pie

The Vicious Babushka: It's Pie Day! All-American Apple Pie

Crust

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 + 1/3 c. shortening (shortening should be chilled in refrigerator)

1 tsp. salt

7-8 Tbsp. ice water

Mix together flour and salt. Cut shortening into flour with pastry blender, mix until mixture resembles large crumbs. Add ice water 1 Tbsp. at a time until you can form a dough. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

Filling

8 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 Tbsp. honey

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

Combine all filling ingredients except for the butter/margarine, and let the apples sit for 30 min. to 1 hour. Drain the apples and pour out the juice into a small saucepan (there should be about 1/2 - 3/4 c. liquid). Add the margarine and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. Pour the syrup back over the apples and mix well.

Preheat oven to 425. Roll out the pie crust and line a 9" pie pan. Add the apple filling, and top with rolled-out crust, with shapes cut out.

Brush the top of the pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake for about an hour. A pie crust cover may be used to keep the edges from getting too brown.