It’s been a while since my family went apple picking…and I was starting to sweat a little thinking I might not get my apples cooked up into gooey filling so my family can be treated with pies throughout the year untill it’s time to go picking again! But yesterday we had the afternoon to be home together and get the job done! And after all the peeling, cutting, and cooking…we ended up with 11 fillings for freezing! Of course after all the effort it was necessary to bake a pie to indulge on…and also have some fun experimenting with a yummy alternative I might consider serving over the holidays! Have a peek at our kitchen festivity…and the mouthwatering outcome!
it’s pie time!
sometimes the task seems a bit daunting but once i get started it actually goes pretty quickly! i totally depend on an apple peeler…i can’t even imagine peeling a half bushel of apples by hand!! and though the peeler can make the counter a big juicy mess, it’s my best friend on this one day of the year! i brought the apples in from the cool garage and got ready to begin…
the peeler might be an old one…
but it gets the job done!
i peel a recipe at a time so i can get the apples cooking before they begin to brown. but i try to keep two or three fillings going on the stove at a time so i can get finished faster…i just have to pay attention to what i’m doing! the whole family pitches in offering plenty of helping hands! i think they’ve figured out that extra helping equals extra tasting!
time for simmering…
once they cool…they’ll go in the freezer and stay there up to a year!
we make my grandmother’s recipe each year…and our favorite version is the apple crumble pie…
the recipe:
simmer over low-medium heat–
4 c chopped apples (i like half jonathan and half granny smith)
1 c sugar
2 T cornstarch
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
cook the apples until the sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened. remove from heat and add 2 T butter and let melt.
and that’s it! so easy! now you have delicious pie filling to enjoy now or freeze. if you want it now…
pour the filling into a pie crust and
top it with crumble…
in a bowl add:
1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c whole oats
5 T butter cut into pieces
blend all ingredients with a pastry knife…top your pie…bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until heated through and crust is golden brown!
i’m trying something new this year…
salted caramel apple hand pies!
though we LOVE the version above, i was dying to fiddle around with a fresh twist! with some extra pie crust dough i cut over-sized hearts with a cookie cutter…
a dollop of pie filling on each…
topped with some mini caramels and a pinch of sea salt! i actually found that adding more caramels than shown here made a gooier pie! you can also use ice cream topping which stays nice and soft…plus you may want that to drizzle over the top later!
![IMG_6889[1]](http://www.giggleliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_68891-e1445204330408.jpg)
dampen the edges a bit and top with another heart. pinch the edges, crimp with a fork, and if you wish–
sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar!
i like to bake on parchment paper so they won’t stick. pop them in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until golden…
ready to serve…
the apple filling is nice and secure inside making these great to just pick up and eat! so cute for parties or fall picnics!
of course you could always add a little more caramel on top…
yum!
whether you top ’em like a traditional slice or just pick them up and eat…mini pies are every bit as fun to make as they are to indulge on!
i’m so glad i tried a new twist on my grandma’s recipe!