Sunday, October 12, 2008

Apple pie

aPie Crust:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup of unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup water
I learned that all these ingredients need to be chilled or ice cold before mixing. The reason why butter was used instead of all shortening is to make the crust flaky.
  1. In a large bow, combine flour, salt, and mix
  2. Add shortening and start adding water one table spoon at a time and mix it in
  3. Before it's completely mixed, chop butter up and mix it in as well
  4. Divide them into half, roll them up in balls and put them in plastic wraps
  5. Refrigerate for 4+ hours
In the end, the mixture shouldn't be completely mixed in together. It's ok if they looked like crumbs. it's good to leave the butter a little separate. Some of it could stay in a size no larger than a pea, because during the baking the butter will melt and resulting in flakier crust.

Filling and assembling the pie:
  • 9 inch pie pan
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons of corn starch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 4 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
Egg wash:
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 table spoon of milk
I am not completely sure if pies would actually use all of 4 apples, but it's better to have extra than not enough, right?
  1. Set oven to 425 degrees F
  2. Use rolling pin to make the bottom pie crust...
    • Put a layer of flour on the surface of where the pie dough would be rolled on to prevent sticking to the surface
    • Roll it into as much of a circle as possible
    • To mount it onto the pie pan, just fold it in half and fold it again in half so it's in a cone shape
    • Put the quarter shape into the pie pan, and unroll it (it's pretty easy, thanks to all recipe video)
    • Trim the edge that is too long with scissors or knife
    • Refrigerate the bottom pie
  3. Filling
    • Melt the butter, add 3 table spoon of corn starch and mix well
    • Add cinnamon, white and brown sugar into the butter along with the water and mix
    • Place apples into the pie until it's slightly taller than the crust height
    • Pour, slowly, the mixture into the pie from the center so it would slowly seep into the side
  4. Egg wash - Beat the egg slightly and mix in milk to make egg wash
    • Brush the egg wash on the edges of the pie crust
  5. Make the top pie crust just like how the bottom crust is made
    • Unfold the top crust onto the pie
    • Trim off the edges of the extra pie crust but leave about 1/2 an inch so they can be molded to seal with the bottom crust
    • Mold the edge to make shapes (make it pretty or something...use imagination, as long as the top and bottom seals the pie)
    • On the top pie crust, make a center hole (it'll be for venting)
    • Slice other venting holes/slits on top of the pie
  6. Bake in oven for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 350 degrees F after for another 35 to 45 minutes
    • To check if the pie were done, cut into the pie to see if the apples were soft
    • If the apples were soft, then it's done
***To make crust shiny, melt 3/4 cup of syrup and very hot water together, mix and brush onto the top. Also sprinkle granulated sugar on top. Bake for 3 minutes

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