Apple Crumb Pie

Special to our new friends John & Emma who brought laughter, fun and chocolate to our weekend! 
This is my husband's recipe! ;) 
He added pecans to the crumb and served with all natural vanilla ice cream. Doesn't get any better than this! A new favorite for me at least!
So here we go...


>> Ingredients
CRUST
1 1/4 cups All-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/3 cup shortening
4 to 5 Tbsp. Water (cold)


1. In a medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until pieces are pea-size.
2. Sprinkle 1 Tbs of the water over the flour mixture, gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat this process until all flour mixture is moistened. Form dough into a ball.
3. On a lightly floured surface, use your hands to slightly flatten dough. Roll it from center to the edges into a circle about 12" diameter.
4. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll it into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into the plate without stretching it.
5. Trim pastry and fold any extra. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry


FILLING
6 cups (about 6 apples) of thinly sliced and peeled apples (Gala or Fuji will do)
1 Tbsp lemon juice (optional, to prevent apples to get dark while you prepare the pie)
3/4 cup of sugar (we used half brown and half white)
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg


CRUMB
Stir together using a pastry blender:
1/2  cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/3 cup (approximate) of pecans broken into tiny pieces - Optional
Mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.


1. Sprinkle apples with lemon juice. In a large bowl stir together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add to apple slices and gently toss until coated.
2. Transfer apple mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate. Cover with the crumbs and bake in pre-heated oven (375ºF) for about an hour, until edges are slightly browned and filling is bubbly.


I'll admit it: we forgot to take a picture of the pie so this one is just a picture I stole somewhere on the internet. But I must say: Justin's pie was just as beautiful, if not even more beautiful!
Enjoy!


♥