Pies:

Apple Pie

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Ingredients

Crusts (top and bottom):
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons shortening or 2/3 cup lard
4-5 tablespoons cold water
Filling:
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 cup brown sugar, not packed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 cups (about 8 medium) LuraRed apples or Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Topping:
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cup of crushed cashew brittle (I use Trembley's brand from Hayward, Wisc.)

Instructions

For the crusts, mix flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or by criss-crossing 2 knives, until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl. 1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary. Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half and shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Roll one round on lightly floured surface, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down pie plate, 9x1-1/4 inches. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side. Save other crust for lattice top. For the filling, heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Coat apples with mix and turn apples into pastry-lined 9" pie plate. Dot with butter. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of plate. Save remaining coating mixture. Roll other round of pastry. Form lattice for top pie crust. Dust top pie crust with saved coating mixture. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust. Add candied cashew brittle topping. Topping: Stir water and sugar in a microwave safe container and heat in microwave for 5 minutes on highest setting. Stir cashew brittle into heated mixture. Drizzle on top pie crust. Cool and serve.

Laura Hinds
Rock Island