October 2014

October 2014
Day Trip to Oakridge Oct 2014

Monday, September 17, 2012

As American as Apple Pie

I’m not sure what that means.  Apparently the first person to write down a recipe for apple pie was Geoffrey Chaucer in 1381, and he was ENGLISH!  The fruit was baked into a pastry shell called a coffyn, and the recipe included figs, raisins, and pears, along with spices and apples.  I am glad the pie has evolved from there, as I prefer my apple pie to contain, well…apples.  The English often serve their pie with slices of cheddar cheese.

And who hasn’t heard of a Dutch apple pie?  Those early pies from the 15th and 16th century recommend the addition of lemon juice and cinnamon, more like our traditional apple pie.  Those early pies had a lattice crust but today a Dutch apple pie will usually come with a crumb crust on top.

Wherever it came from and whoever made the first one, I can tell you that Sunday, we had one of the best ones!!  Look how evenly that crust is browned.
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This was a homemade pie from start to finish.  The flakiest crust I have ever tasted and the apples had just the right mix of sweet and spice.  The baker did not use the traditional egg wash on the top crust, but brushed it first with melted butter and then sprinkled on cinnamon sugar.  OH MY GOODNESS…that was one fine pie.  It was served not with slices of cheddar cheese but with scoops of good old fashioned Tillamook vanilla ice cream.

And who baked this gastronomical delight?  ‘Tweren’t me!!   I can bake the finest pumpkin bread you will ever set a tooth to, and I can make a yummy batch of Snicker Doodles, but I only make a passable pie.  This one was made by a master.

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Yup, that’s our oldest son, John (Red) and he is one heckofa pie baker.  He has a method of making his bottom crust just right and not soggy too but if I told all his secrets, I would never get another pie!  We had a great visit in Portland with John and family and the pie was just the icing on the cake (so to speak, lol).  Yes, it really was that good.

It was a long day and we were weary when we got home.  Poppy headed straight for the bathtub for a much needed nap and we ate a bite and went to bed.  We were treated to a nice sunset on the way home and here’s a picture we call 
“Sunset at 70 miles an hour!!” Smile

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30 comments:

  1. Oh YUMMMMMMMY! That is one delicious looking pie. I am sure it tasted as good as it looks.

    GORGEOUS sunset!!!

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  2. love making apple pies from scratch....I do it the cape breton way....only fruit is apples but there is a dash of lemon, a shake of flour brown and white sugar and cinnamon as well as nutmeg :) before adding the top crust there are a couple of blobs of butter dropped on top....

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  3. Now you've done it, my mouth is watering and I'm in search of something to eat. I will have to say I've never iced a cake with pie though.

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    1. Well see, there's your problem. Had you iced your cake with a pie, the ants would have gone after that and left your cookies alone.

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  4. Holy Cow - that pie looks so wonderful and your description just made me drool. My Dad was the pie baker in our family and I sure didn't inherit his skills in that department. Tell Red I want blueberry.

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    1. Oh yeah, blueberry would be good. He makes a great wild blackberry too.

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  5. I could sure go for a piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream right about now! :)

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  6. Ack, lost my whole post. Short version--I always learn something from your posts, Donna. They are a pleasure to read.

    Red's pie looks delicious. My Mom liked her's with cheese, but I'm with you...warm pie and vanilla ice cream. Tillamook--all the better. I know what I'll dream about tonight!

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    1. When I saw him brushing butter on the crust I was sure it would burn...but it was delicious. That's a new one on me.

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  7. I think a pie that fine calls for actual profanity, like heluva.

    And, 70 miles an hour?? Russ, man, your right foot needs to go on a juice fast!

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  8. Yummy; is there a slice left ... Mui'll take it either with a slice of Cheddar or a scoop of ice cream, please.

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  9. Replies
    1. Yup, that's what his wife and daughter think too!! He's a good cook, just like my dad was.

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  10. Mo is cheddar and I am ice cream. That pie looked beautiful!

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  11. Oh my! I love apple pie.

    Last night we watched an old, probably, American Masterchef program where the contestants made, what other than, American apple pie. One or two met Gordon Ramsey's approval but many were plain weird. I doubt if any came close to the one Red made you.

    Blessings

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    1. It was good Margie Ann - really good!! I bet even Gordon Ramsey would have approved.

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  12. John is a keeper alright. I know too many men who have no clue where to find salt and pepper in the kitchen pantry. A man who can cook is a real man!

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    1. Many of the best chefs are men. My dad sure loved to cook and my nephew was a trained chef. My Russ: if he can open the can, he can warm it up...maybe lol!!

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  13. If I send my address, do you promise to send a pie?

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    1. HA! I would have to take half first as a finders fee!!

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  14. As a certified 'pie expert' I can say that Red's Apple Pie looks absolutely perfecto! Man, I wish I had one here right now! I've never figured out what cheddar cheese has to do with Apple Pie? Give me vanilla ice cream any day.

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  15. I love apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese on it..yummy..don't knock it till you try it..you will never go back to 'ala mode'!!

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  16. That pie looks delicious! Nice to always get together with the kids.

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  17. Yummy yummy yum... I LOVE pies, especially apple pies.

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  18. I'm known for my baking, but pies defeat me, so its premade roll out dough and canned filing, by the way make mine cherry. Sam is the apple lover
    in the family but has to have ice cream w/ it and
    wont eat the pie unless he has it. At the restaurant when we have apple pie we get more request for ice cream than cheese, but most like
    just the pie the way it is.
    Donna

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  19. Love a good apple pie. They have some good ones at High Hill at Apple Hill area just East of Sacramento CA. Yummmmm

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  20. That's one fine looking pie. Makes me hungry looking at it!
    Candy

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