Apple Pie | Fiesta Friday #35 | The Novice Gardener

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apple pie, apple recipe, dessert, Fiesta Friday, Fiesta Friday #35, mini pie, pie, recipe

My mother is what I call a health-nut, or more accurately a superfood-addict. If possible, every meal she takes must contain at least a superfood ingredient. As long as I can remember, she has always been this way. She used to give us a spoonful of raw honey and fish oil daily when we were young. Yuck, right? I thought so. I rebelled by puking, which wasn’t hard to do. So, she stopped. At least with me, she did.

I’m not very much like my mother, preferring to eat anything I crave at the moment, superfoods involved or not. Sometimes I wonder if I was in fact switched at birth the way I’ve turned out so differently from my own mother. Or maybe I’m just more like my dad. He certainly loved his chocolate and croissants the way I do.

My mom happens to be here, visiting for a few weeks. Since week 1, she’s been sprinkling chia seeds into my coffee. No kidding! It turns my coffee into a pudding. I have to use a spoon to drink it. But she’s my mom and I love her so I let her. Honestly, I’m getting used to it. Actually, I’m beginning to like it. I still want my drinkable coffee, but the chia coffee pudding thingy isn’t half bad. Besides, she told me chia seeds have many health benefits. For one, they help her stay regular, she said. Mom!! TMI!!

Anyway, as much as I appreciate her well-meaning intentions, I can’t just stop eating what I want to eat. I’m forever a rebel. A rebel without a cause, I guess. I want my drinkable coffee and I want my sweets, something she considers the most unnecessary part of a diet. Specifically, I want my apple pie.

Apples have been on my mind lately. Can you blame me? It’s apple season, after all. My mom and I went picking and now I have apples all over the house. I mean it. I have them in the fridge. I have them in the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter. I have them in a basket on the coffee table in the living room. I have them on a platter on the ottoman in the family room. Anytime I need a snack, there’s an apple nearby.

But why have fresh apples when you can have apple pie? This, once again, is where Mom and I differ. She prefers fresh. However, as I’ve mentioned, I am forever rebelling. Plus, I am the author of this blog, and I’d say we turn some of these apples into a pie. What say you?

Brown Sugar Mini Apple Pies

Difficulty: Moderate
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The crust
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 stick cold butter
1 tsp sugar
A pinch of salt
4 tbsp cold water or milk

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.
2. Using a fork or a pastry blender, cut butter into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Sprinkle water or milk 1 tablespoon at a time, while tossing lightly with a fork.
4. Add liquid until dough is just moist enough to form a ball.
5. Shape dough into a flat disk and refrigerate while making the filling.

The filling
3 medium-sized apples
3/4 cup brown sugar
5 tbsp butter
2 tsp flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Peel and dice apples into small cubes, place in a bowl. Sprinkle flour and toss.
2. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter, then add sugar. Stir and let sugar melt.
3. Add apples and cook until apples are soft. Add cinnamon and stir to combine.

Making the pies
1. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into rounds big enough to cover your mini pie plates.
2. Spoon filling until it is level with the top edge of the pie plate (Or you can put more and have it mounding slightly, it’s up to you). Cover with another round piece of crust. Press edges together to seal and then flute edge.
3. Decorate with remaining scraps of crust.
4. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle raw sugar, if you like.
5. Pierce top of pie with a skewer or cut slits.
6. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Makes 4 3-inch mini pies.

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Now it’s time for features! Thanks to my dream team, Selma and Elaine, for helping me select these outstanding posts, diamonds among gems.

Sauerkraut Dumplings from Ginger @Ginger & Bread.

In Selma’s words, “[These are] so unusual – I could eat a big plateful!! Not only an inspired combination of ingredients to tame the sauerkraut but also a very creative way to roll the filling in dough, slice and cook them. This is something that I must try!”

I just have to second Selma. These sauerkraut dumplings are so interesting that they beg to be tried. I just know I’m going to love them. I love sauerkraut + I love dumplings = I double love Sauerkraut dumplings. Right?

Pineapple Carpaccio from Swayam @La Petit Chef.

In Selma’s words, “Wow, this one got my tastebuds tingling just looking at the photos! A Bollywood party in my mouth indeed! Where was this a couple of months ago when it was too hot to cook? That dressing would also make the base of a very moreish cocktail. And what wonderful photos, too….”

This one had me at pineapple, or maybe at the color yellow. Summer on a plate! Such gorgeous photos and presentation of sliced pineapple. Simple and sophisticated at the same time. How is that possible? Only Swayam can do that. Way to go, Swayam!

Christmas in August from Chava @flavourphotos.

In Elaine’s words, “I love Christmas and these beautiful photos of colorful Christmas decorations made me smile so much, I don’t care what time of year it is.”

I’m with Elaine on this one. Christmas is the one time of the year I look forward to. Well, maybe my birthday, too. And my anniversary. And Valentine’s day. And Easter. And Halloween. And Thanksgiving….no, not Thanksgiving ‘coz I have to wrestle a big turkey. I think I just love holidays, but Christmas is my favorite so I don’t mind it coming a little early. Not at all. Looking at those Christmas decorations actually made me very happy, Chava! Thank you!

Almond-Crusted Pork Scallopini with Apples and Arugula from Josette @thebrookcook.

Pork and apples are a match made in heaven, showcased here beautifully by Josette. I love the idea of adding arugula, which is unusual, but why not? I got a bed full of arugula still out there. I’ve been looking at it and scratching my head what to do. And you know I have apples coming out of my ears, so apples & arugula are a match made in heaven, too, I’ve decided.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole from Arlene @Arl’s World.

Okay, confession time. This is the kind of meal that I want to eat most days, and is in fact what I serve in my house most days. Comforting, full of flavors, simple to make and can be made ahead in big batches. Casseroles are a busy girl’s best friends, I swear. This one looks so yummy, Arlene!

There you have it, folks, our features for FF34!

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Now it’s time to party, FF35 style! With my BFFs (Blogger Friends Forever) Prudy and Naina. Please join them for a few days of fun and chitchat and getting to know each other and swapping recipes and sharing stories, etc., etc. You know how it goes, right?

Click on the button below to join the party. If you’re new to Fiesta Friday, please read the guidelines.