Mmm...pie.

Having a hard time talking to your Mom about politics?
Try baking a pie! Call it, um, Pastries Against Bush.



ALL AMERICAN APPLE PIE

First, the crust:

2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup cake flour
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks chilled sweet butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
6 tablespoons (or more) ice water

Blend first 4 ingredients in processor or with pastry mixer. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and process until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 1 hour before rolling out.

Then the filling:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 lb apples, peeled, cored, and each cut into 10 wedges (use a mix of tart apples — such as Winesap or Granny Smith — and sweet varieties like Fuji, Jonagold, Idared, or Mutsu)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • Put a large baking sheet in middle of oven and preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Whisk together flour, zest, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, salt, and 2/3 cup sugar and gently toss with apples and lemon juice.
  • Roll out 1 piece of dough (keep remaining piece chilled) on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round, then fit into a 9-inch (4-cup) glass or metal pie plate. Trim edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Chill shell while rolling out dough for top crust.

  • Roll out remaining piece of dough on lightly floured surface with lightly floured rolling pin into an 11-inch round.

  • Spoon filling into shell, then cover with pastry round and trim with kitchen shears, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press edges together, then crimp decoratively. Lightly brush top of pie with egg and sprinkle all over with remaining tablespoon sugar. Cut 3 steam vents in top crust with a small sharp knife.

  • Bake pie on hot baking sheet 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue to bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, about 40 minutes more. Cool pie to warm or room temperature on a rack, 2 to 4 hours, while discussing politics with your mom.

Mmm...Convincing!


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