Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
Fresh, stewed, and baked apples are traditional treats in celebrating St. Euphrósynos Feast Day (September 24/11).
Here is our family’s delicious Apple Pie recipe!
It only has a bottom crust, with three layers of fruit and brown sugar crumble topping.
Bottom Pie Crust Ingredients
2/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cold vegetable shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
4 to 5 Tbsp. cold water
Fruit & Sugar Filling/Topping Ingredients
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup butter or margarine
8 medium sized tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Bottom Pie Crust Pastry Directions
– Mix flour and salt and cut in shortening until it’s the consistency of small peas.
– Sprinkle with water 1 Tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until the flour mixture is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl.
– Add an extra Tablespoon or two, of water if necessary, to moisten dough.
– Gather pastry into one ball and pat into a flattened round on a lightly floured surface.
– Using a floured rolling pin, roll the pastry out 2 inches larger than a 10 inch wide and 2 inches deep pie plate.
– Fold pastry loosely into quarters, pick up gently and unfold it, easing it into pie plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
Fruit & Sugar Filling/Topping Directions
– Using a pastry knife, mix sugar, flour, spices, lemon juice and butter (or margarine) together until crumbly. (Keep separate from the prepared apples)
– Spread 1/3 of this sugar mixture over bottom of the unbaked pastry shell.
– Distribute half of apple slices over sugar mixture.
– Sprinkle another 1/3 of sugar mixture over apple slices, distribute remaining apples over sugar mixture, and cover the top with the apples and remaining 1/3 of sugar mixture.
– Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Although this pie is not made with fragrant, heavenly apples… its aroma while baking is delightful!
Serves 8
Folk Hymn – Life of St. Euphrósynos by Katina
Memory Eternal Schema-nun Theodora!