Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Mini apple pies (with a simple pie dough recipe)

Today is New Year's Eve 2013. Our last day at the beach (sigh). What always happens on the last day at the beach?! Clean out the fridge and pantry. Mama always says, "We're not taking anything home!" (She also says not to call her 'mama'!! But I do anyways). :-). Needless to say, we had several apples left to eat. As if we needed any more desserts to consume, I decided to make mini apple pies. I got a little creative because as I said, it's 'eat the leftovers' not 'run to the store for the ingredients!'

I looked up a simple pie dough recipe (using what I had which was self rising flour and not the typical all purpose flour used in pie dough). 

Simple Pie dough
1 cup flour (self rising worked fine - just don't add salt)
1/3 c Crisco (or butter)
2-3 Tbsp cold water

Using pastry cutter or two knives, cut Crisco into flour. Add water to combine everything in to a dough ball. I used a fork to toss everything together. (I also made 2 dough balls). 

Apple pie filling
3-4 apples peeled and cored; chopped in to small pieces (Granny Smith is traditionally used in pies but use what ya have)
2 Tbsp butter
Pinch of salt
2-3 Tbsp sugar
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
Melted caramel (optional)

Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in cast iron skillet (if you have one; something big enough for the apples). Toss apples, sprinkle salt, and let cook a few minutes. Add sugar and spices. Let apples cook until tender. If you have caramel you can add at the last minute just until melted (again, cleaning out the pantry we had caramel candies so I decided to experiment. You could totally omit the caramel). 

Transfer to a dish and allow apple mix to cool down. 

Meanwhile, cut you dough in half or thirds (I did). Roll out to flat disks. Maybe 6-8 inches in diameter. 

Add a few spoonfuls of apple mix to center. Fold over dough and seal edges. 

Brush an egg wash over top (egg and water). Cut slits in top. Bake for about 30 minutes. 

Not bad for improvising!!