My Maine Ingredient: Apples

Trees around the Maine countryside are currently decorated with red, yellow, and green. Its time for harvesting apples! Honey Crisp, Mackintosh, Granny Smith, Cortland, Empire, Fortune, Gala, or Gingergold apples are being turned into cider or a number of delicious treats. I thought this week I would share a healthy recipe for apple pie.

orangepippin.com lists orchards around the the country by state where you can get apples and other fruit. There are 78 orchards listed for the state of Maine.

Nana Sarah’s Pie Crust

Note: Make a double recipe if you want a top crust . This will give you enough dough to line and cover a 10-inch pie plate and have some left over for decorating the edges.

1 3\4 cup spelt or whole wheat flour
1/3 cup grape seed oil
1/2 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sea salt

In a blender, mix together the 1\3 cup oil, 1\2 cup water, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add to the flour and mix well. Stir gently until you can form a ball of dough. Divide the dough if you are making a top crust. Prepare the bottom crust by rolling the dough between two sheets of parchment or waxed paper and then place the dough into a greased pie pan. Use a fork to gently poke around the pan bottom to release trapped air during baking. After you add the filling and put on the top crust, you can use cookie cutters and make shapes with the extra dough to decorate the top of the pie.

Gluten Free Option: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Mix can be used as a substitute for the spelt or whole wheat flour. My mom has also used oat flour, but you must have patience to roll out the crust. More oat flour will need to be added until the dough is able to be rolled out without being sticky.
Apple Pie Filling

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

8 large or 10 medium apples, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon each of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
Light sprinkle of cloves
1\2 teaspoon sea salt
1\3 cup of flour (Bob’s Redmill Gluten Free Baking Mix can be used)
1/2-3/4 cup natural sweetener such as honey, agave, or maple syrup. (Diabetics can sprinkle the top with stevia powder rather than using other sweetener if desire but add it slowly and taste as you go).

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl except the sweetener and place in the pie shell.

Drizzle the apples with the natural sweetener of your choice. I use approximately 1\2 to 3\4 a cup depending on the variety of apples. Some varieties are more sweet than others.

After your sweetener is added, roll out a top crust. Cover the top of the pie and trim any excess dough from edges with a sharp knife. Use the knife to make four small cuts in the top of the crust. Crimp the edges and use the extra dough and some small cookie cutters to make decorations for the top if desired. Bake at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes depending on your oven until the crust is golden brown.

 

Sienna Mazone

About Sienna Mazone

As a teen chef, I look forward to sharing my passion for eating great food and enjoying the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.