Love to Bake...

Hello to all of you lovelies! Aside from my love of reading and writing, I have a fondness for baking. 

Among my family I was the one to inherit the baking gene and role. Birthdays, holidays, or just the random family brunch, I usually bring a treat of my own creation. I decided that for this part of my blog, I will be contributing recipes I enjoy, baking tricks I have learned and experiments that have paid off. When I bake, I like to take a traditional recipe, as a start and add my own spin to it--whether that is adding a spice, nuts or simply changing up the texture.

For my first entree, I'd like to start with one of my favorite recipes--Apple Pie. I don't think there is a desert that is more comforting than Apple Pie. The warm and cozy feeling pie offers is the definition of home.  I should say that this recipe isn't unique by any means but, I've added a few tips/ ingredients to make it "my own," which I encourage everyone to do. 

So here we go...

Directions:

1.) In a small bowl, combine the sugars, flour and spices--set aside
2.) In a large bowl, toss apples with melted butter. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.
3.) Take half of the apple mixture and put into a pot and caramelize/ partially cook, over low heat (heat until a fork can pierce through an apple slice easily, but before the apples become brown and mushy-- about 5-8 mins). Continuously stir.
4.) Line a 9inch pie pan with bottom crust. Fill crust with apple mixtures (pour caramelized mixture and uncooked apples into crust); dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of the pie. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in the top of the pastry.
5.) Beat egg white until foamy; brush over top pastry. Sprinkle with sugar and a little cinnamon on the top.
6.) Bake at 375° for 25 minute or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar
1/2 packed (light) brown sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 egg (for egg white-wash)
6 to 7 cups of thinly sliced, peeled apples (I like to use three types of apple--Granny Smith, Fuji and Macintosh--each apple provides a different flavor and texture to the pie)
1/2 tablespoon of Butter (melt half for apple mixture and the remaining is used when baking)

Now I am a cinnamon person-- I love it! So I like to add a bit more after pouring the apple mixture into the bottom crust (if it looks like it could use it). I like to add extra cinnamon to sweet and sugary desserts like Apple Pie, to challenge the sugar. This is also why I use three different types of apples--Granny Smith apples are tart, Fuji apples are crisp and Macintosh are sweet--the combination gives different levels of flavor to the pie. 

But like I said, this is just my interpretation of an Apple Pie recipe. I hope you take what you like and change what you don't. That's the great thing about baking, you can adjust the flavor/ recipe to your taste and what you prefer.

Bon Appetit! Give it a try and let me know how you like it!

For now, I say good night and hope that the my random ramblings have peeked your inner baker.
~BL