September Spotlight- All about Apples!

There are many reasons why I love Fall.

Cozy sweaters.

Sitting next to a warm fire.

Hayrides.

Pumpkins.

And yes, APPLES!

Thankfully, hubby and I live only twenty minutes away from Minnesota’s APPLE capital!!!

La Crescent, Minnesota knows ALL about Apples.  In fact- the community just celebrated their annual FALL festival-APPLEFEST-two weekends ago.

The four-day event is jam-packed with fun for all ages! Car shows, flea markets, carnival rides and so much more!

But the King parade is what everyone from miles around comes for on the last day of the festival!

So why all the fuss over a fruit?

Well, because for many years, the apple has been an important part of this communities economy. And this delicious fruit that offers so many varieties of flavors is what put this town on the map!

Now people come from all over just to see the breathtaking scenery up on Apple Blossom Drive, where the orchards and all their apple splendor (there were 40 of them at one time) dot the hillside, and you get a postcard view of the Mississippi River!

Jonathan– A good eating and keeping apple. Medium-sized attractive fruit, striped red with high color in spots. Flesh juicy and crisp. Flavor refreshing and tart-sweet.

Jersey Mac– Medium sized red apple with yellow/green splashes. Flesh is smooth and juicy with a tart flavor. 

Haralson– Best for pies and baked desserts. Also a great eating and cider apple. Flesh is crisp, juicy, firm. Mildly tart flavor, not acid. Holds its shape and texture in baking. Retains good flavor in keeping.

Jonagold- Large fruit striped red over bright yellow. Firm, crackling, juicy, slightly tart, flesh. Superb, rich, full flavor. Finest dessert and eating quality. Good cooking properties. 

Jonamac– Medium size, firm fruit with 90% dark red color over a greenish background. Flesh firm, crisp, high quality with flavor similar to McIntosh

Wealthy–Excellent dessert and multi-use apple, picked a few weeks early for cooking. Beautiful fruit ripens to bright red across the surface. Crisp, juicy flesh. Refreshing, sprightly, tangy sweet flavor.

Mom and I both walked out with plenty of apples that weekend, and it didn’t take long for me to put them too good use!

French apple pie is one of hubby’s favorite fall desserts, and since he’s been such a wonderful helper this summer, (with the patience of a saint), I made one just for him!!!

So you see- apples really are something to celebrate, and that’s why I decided that for the month of September, I would put them in the SPOTLIGHT!

And since I love you all so much-I figured why not share the recipe for mom’s French Apple Pie?!

Here it is-enjoy! 

Print

French Apple Pie

Course Dessert

Keyword Pie

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

Crust

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup milk

Filling

• 6-7 apples peeled and sliced
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp apple pie spice

Topping

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400.

   Add flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. Combine with shortening using a pastry blender. Add in milk. Roll dough into a ball. Cut in half. Place each dough ball in storage bags and flatten slightly. **This pie will only need one crust. You can freeze the other. Let dough chill for at least one hour.

   Meanwhile, combine apples, spice, and sugar in large mixing bowl.  Set aside

   Combine topping ingredients in another medium mixing bowl, using a pastry blender to mix until crumbly.

   Flour surface generously. Place dough on floured surface and roll out moving dough constantly to prevent sticking. Roll dough until 1/2" larger in diameter than the pie pan. 

   Place crust in pie pan and press down pinching with fingers around the edge.

   Pour apple mixture into crust.

   Sprinkle with topping.

   Bake in the oven for 10 min. Lower oven temperature to 350 and bake for another 50-60 minutes or until apples are soft and topping is a golden brown.