A Southern Grace: apple of my eye

December 7, 2008

apple of my eye

Yum

I love apple pie.


Love. It.

It's truly my dessert of choice, and all modesty aside, I make a fierce one. And by fierce, I mean wonderfully-crusted, cinnamon-scented, and jam-packed with apple goodness.


I'm not sure why the apples look like sweet potatoes...perhaps they've been stained by the years of contact with cinnamon. Niiiice.
(And yes, that is indeed extra cinnamon sprinkled on top of the apples.)


Mamboree and I had a massive apple pie filling canning session a couple of years ago, so I haven't had to cook one up from scratch for a good while. I also have a go-to crust recipe, but I mixed it up a bit for this particular pie, using a combination of butter and shortening rather than all shortening. I've read that butter contributes to flavor while shortening is key for texture and that blending the two makes for a perfect crust, but that wasn't what I found. I think I'll stick with the old stand-by for a bit longer.


Yes, that is indeed extra, extra cinnamon sprinkled on top of the crust.

With my extra dough, I used cookie cutters to make some stars and cute little men. Gingerbread men? Pshaw. Give me pie-crust men!


As you wish.

Of course, the pie was consumed with a schlop of vanilla ice cream, but since I haven't figured out how to take a picture of ice cream before it melts into oblivion, there is no photographic evidence. You'll have to take my word for it.

Canned Apple Pie Filling (with just a hint of cinnamon)
(yields about 7 quarts)

4 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
10 cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
6 pounds apples of choice, peeled, cored, and sliced

In a large pot, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add salt and water and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice.
Sterilize canning jars, lids, and rings by boiling them in a large pot of water.
Pack the sliced apples into hot canning jars, leaving about a 1/2-inch headspace. Fill the jars with the hot syrup. Put the lids on the jars and process in a water bath for 20 minutes.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have no doubt that you've absolutely perfected your Apple Pie over the years and as for the extra cinnamon? I'd expect no less!

kat said...

Yum! what a wonderful looking pie! There is really nothing like a good apple pie

Abitofafoodie said...

What a gorgeous-looking apple pie. I just adore apple desserts too and pie is a real favourite. Interesting regarding the pastry - I too had heard that a combination of the two was best. Now I know better!

Peter M said...

LOL, love the wee pie-crust man...gulp he's gone and the piece of apple pie.

Is this a family recipe, cause it's dang good.

Michelle said...

I bet this made your house smell WONDERFUL while cooking it! Yummm!!

Lucy..♥ said...

OOOHHH YUM!! This apple pie looks like I could dive right into it, looks scrumptious!!

Bunny said...

I'm with you Grace, apple pie rocks! I've never made it with cooked apples though, I need to make it this way. I love the pictures!!

Anonymous said...

What a sweet pie crust man! Hope he got some ice-cream for himself before you devoured him.

Heather said...

i love the pie crust man!! and how kind of him to offer to be devoured :) i would have been happy to oblige, as well ;) and all that cinnamon... be still my heart! it sounds lovely :)

MaryBeth said...

WOW...simply yummy!

Debbie said...

I have never canned in my life, but now I think I should. Just for this pie. It looks perfect.
And I'm with you...apple pie is my favorite.

pam said...

How wonderful to have apple pie filling just waiting to become pies!

RecipeGirl said...

Love your little hidden gingerbread guy. So creative of you to make this pie holidayish :)

The Blonde Duck said...

Holy crap. I'm in heaven. If you ever want to send me a sussy, that'll do.

By the way, I haven't forgotten about yours. I've simply been delayed!

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Apple pie is definitely a southern grace dessert--I mean now there's a place for cinnamon! It looks delicious and you cracked me up with the crust men, lol

Leslie said...

OMG..that is one heavenly apple pie! Love all the warm cinnamon!!
Give the cooks Illustrated pie crust a try..it uses vodka as well as water for moisture. It also turns out perfect everytime

Melanie said...

Oh me, oh my is right. I've always wanted to make canned apple pie filling. Thank you for coming to my rescue with a tried-and-true recipe.

giz said...

Do they give out an award for really serious apple pie people? You win. Such a great idea to just peel a ton of apples at one time, make the filling and you've got it when you need it.

Pam said...

What a cute gingerbread man. This pie looks so amazing...I love all the cinnamon!

OhioMom said...

Apple pie is a winner in our home also :)

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

If you invite me over perhaps we can tackle my lifelong struggle that I have with being pastry challenged together:D Your pastry looks so incredibly flaky!!

Jeanne said...

What is it about apple pie that is so super-appealing?? Yours looks yummy. I always wonder about the all butter, butter/shortening or all-shortenign dilemma. I usually go fo half half... Your pie (and "gingerbread" man) look fabulous :)

LyB said...

Apple pie with a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream... Perfect! :)

Marjie said...

So, am I to presume that you'd also like me to figure out how to make a nice cinnamon flavored vanilla ice cream, and you'll bring the pie to go with it? My dearly beloved just loooves him some apple pie, and since his mother was a champion, I'm a little afraid to put much out there in apple pie land!

Anonymous said...

I love apple pies, but I love the pie-crust man even more! :P Oh how I wish there'd be a pie-crust man hiding somewhere in my pie. Okay that sounds wrong.

Lisa said...

I've been making apple pies too. They are my family's favorite! And while I am no pie crust expert, I made a really good crust this last time using butter and shortening. I cut in the butter part way first, then add the shortening. It turned out great. My son asked if I could maybe put less apples in next time.

Deborah said...

Apple is one of my favorite kinds of pies, and I didn't even get any for Thanksgiving! Guess I need to make my own!

Anonymous said...

It looks amazing. Love the cinnamon on the crust!

Sandy said...

Hey, we're on the same "apple pie" wave-length! I didn't know you canned aple pie in a jar too! :)

Katie said...

What are apples with out cinnamon?? I feel your love for cinnamon you can never really have to much.

TeaLady said...

I am speechless. Except for OH MY!!! That looks absolutely fantastic. It is definitely going on my to do list....

Lori said...

That's strange, your apple pie men are saying the same thing as my cookies. Whats up with that?

I love apple pie. I have never made it but my Mom makes it often. Such a classic!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Love the cute little crust men. Try the crust again though....I find that the shortening and butter blend is the best.

La Bella Cooks said...

One of these days I will get on board with the whole pie making thing. My hubby would pass out if he came home to a homemade pie!

Maria said...

Oh I am sure the ice cream was delicious on your amazing pie!! Looks perfect!!

Anonymous said...

mmm double crust, apple and cinnamon sounds fantastic! the pie crust men are way cool too.

Fran Z said...

MMMM Xtra cinnamon for me too! Looks yummy!

Dee Light said...

Your pie looks yummy!! Apple Pie is a favorite for us too.

Anonymous said...

People on pie I love it...makes it a family affair.

Jaime said...

i'm jealous. i have yet to master the pie crust :(

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Your pie looks fabulous. The little man in crust is cute too. This week I'm featuring Christmas recipes on my blog. I'd love to feature a photo of your pie, if that's okay. There would also be a link to your blog, of course.

Robin said...

I love the men all over this pie! Apple Pie Man, now that is a super hero I could love! With cinnamon no less.

Nikki @ NikSnacks said...

I like your pie. The little fat man (well, I guess he's an apple pie man, now) was so cute. Your pie makes me want to make a apple pie sandwich. Coated with granola like the RR french toast you did. Maybe some cheddar. Have you ever put cheddar on your pie? I bet you have :)

Anna said...

As always, you have my full-on approval on the extra cinnamon front. And as damn often, you've given me a craving. Is it strange that apple pie is my favourite breakfast?

Tabitha Blue said...

Wow, I AM DROOLING! I love apple pie... and canning your own filling... I want to do that!! Thanks for the recipe. I love it! That crust looks perfect, the little man on top... delightful!

Oh, and we're never to old for sledding!!! ;)

Anonymous said...

Love the amount of cinnamon on the crust.. Just how I like it. I've only tried either all butter or all shortening crust. I'll try your method soon enough.

Jacque said...

Ooooh, how interesting! I would have never thought to make home made apple pie filling.

I'll bet it tastes wonderful.

emily said...

I love the cut-outs on the crust! What a cute idea!

Michelle said...

Grace! Thanks for coming by! This apple pie and everything else on your page is making me hungry! Great pictures too. I'm more of a baker than a cook so thanks for all these new recipes to try!

Sophie said...

I admire your canning skills! I haven't ever done that! I think that gingerbread man is asking for an extra sprinkle of cinnamon :D!

PG said...

You're the 2nd person in two days who has given an apple pie recipe where the apples are pre-cooked. It must be a sign. I have seen the light!

Sandie said...

Oh man...I just typed out a long comment and accidentally closed the comment window before posting. Needless to say I was muttering about pie crusts, cute crust cut-outs, and gingerbread men. Sigh***the holidays must be getting to me already...

Peabody said...

MMM, apple pie. Such a satisfying dessert.

Emily said...

You used apple pie filling! You genius!
That's how I want my pie to look.

Vera said...

What a smart idea - to can the filling for future use! The pie looks great, Grace!

Noor said...

YUM, this looks so good. I was wondering what part of the South your from? I am from east Tennessee but away frome home too, far away! I was laughing at your American by birth, Southern by the grace of God bc yes we all say that hehehe..