Clove Pie

Here is a pie that I have made twice over the last two weeks- the first time I made it American style- lots of sugar! It was so easy to whip up; from ingredients to in-the-oven took about 20 minutes. The crust is the best part! Easy to roll out, good buttery flavor and perfect texture.

I promised Debbie I'd post the recipe

CRUST:

2 C. flour (1 c white 1 c wheat for a healthier option)

1 t salt

2/3 C shortening (we use half shortening, half butter for good flavor)

5-7 T cold water

Mix flour and shortening with a pastry blender (or two knives) add salt and water. Roll it out on a floured surface and lay into your pie pan. Cut off the edges that hang over.

FILLING:

1/2 C sugar

1 t Cinnamon

7-9 Apples

Layer sliced apples with the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

I also added a pinch of nutmeg and to this first pie.

TOP CRUST:

1/2 C sugar

1 stick butter, softened

Cut butter into sugar, and sprinkle over entire pie until you've formed a top-crust. Make sure to seal it.

[to cut some sugar out, just use another crust like the bottom for the top, make two or three slits to vent]

Bake at 375 for 50 minutes

This isn't the best apple pie in the world, but it sure is easy to whip up.... and it went fast, too!

We asked our Asian friends to try it- they all agreed it was too sweet! So I made another one with much less sugar.

One of my Asian friends has visited America and she really loves pie. She asked if she could watch me make it, so of course I said yes! She even wanted to roll out the crust- and did a really good job!

The night we were making pie together, several more people came over than I was expecting- 7 in all were there. Scott wasn't home yet, so I was flitting in between the living room and kitchen trying to keep every one entertained (and reassuring a new mom that my dog couldn't get out of the bathroom and that even if it did would NOT mutilate her baby) haha and making sure the recipe was being followed. SO often my friends will INSIST that I have to add different or more or less ingredients than on the recipe so I have to keep an eye out.

So the pie finally gets made, and every one is happy that they got to do something- slice the apples, mix the flour, roll the crust, sprinkle the sugar, etc etc etc... and while we're waiting for the pie, every one is sitting in the living room (which is still about 85 degrees at 8 PM) and I'm sure we were disturbing the neighbors we were laughing so much....

I bring out the pie, cut it up and every one digs in. They loved it! I tasted it... and tasted it again. I can't quite put my finger on what is different. I put only half the sugar that the recipe called for, but it wasn't that.... Scott says, "Wow! A little heavy on the cloves, babe!" I scoffed, "Scott, I didn't even USE cloves" (while rolling my eyes and shaking my head) I tasted it again... hm. Did I use cloves? I went in the kitchen where the ingredients were still sitting out. There was the cinnamon jar with the lid off. See? (holding up the lid) It says...oh. Cloves.

ahhh well, one out of two isn't bad. haha