As easy as pie....








The brief said:

Wanted! One image of a green apple pie - preferably with a slice taken out of it.

How hard could that be? and, how FUN that would be!! =)

I live in Vermont - ten minutes from an orchard and early apples are definitely in season!! Actually, the smell of the freshly picked apples in their open air store was heaven!! I, of course, headed out to the trees so that I could be a super picky,  pick-my-own picker.

But, then... one has to finish shopping, bake it, squeeze making dinner in for the guys and the clouds were dark and heavy (I could swear that night came an hour early!)... and the deadline was nine o' clock the next morning. I made the pies and got everything ready to start photographing in the morning and...

I went to bed and dreamt all night long of apple pies on seas of golden forks and spoons.

I thought that there was no trouble if I didn't make the deadline - after all, the assignment was out of the blue and I could only do what I could do but the circumstances, somehow, suddenly shifted....

Pic of green apple pie - preferably with slice taken out - due in two hours!!!

I've always wondered what it's like to be a professional food stylist and photographer. The food is there and you have a limited time to GET THE SHOT! Yikes!!

Well, I did my best in the circumstances. It was a wee bit stressful! =P and, whoever made up that silly saying, 'easy as pie'?? Especially when there's a slice taken out....

It's not!

But, the weather that morning was rainy, muted and very quiet and the tree out my window has suddenly put on her orange, autumnal dress - she's just gorgeous! and there was a migrating flock of ducks flying in a massive swirl into the pond with an almighty splashing! and fall, really, arrived that very morning with a nip and certain festive 'something' in the air!!

Life is so wonderful, eh!?!

And I surely hope they like it. I should have made the simpler crust, maybe - perhaps that's what they really wanted?! (biting lip...)

But, happily, at the end of the day... of course... there's simply pie!!! =)








Katy's sour cream apple pie.

Firstly, the truth is, I use Betty Crocker ready made crust! Why not?! ;)

So, now that we've got that over with! ;)

~ one package ready made pie crusts! =) (two rounds)

~ six tart green cooking apples - peeled, cored and sliced
~ Tossed in juice of one lemon

~ 2 TB flour
~ 3/4 cup sugar
~ 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
~ 1/2 tsp nutmeg
~ big pinch of cloves
~ 1/8 tsp salt

~ 1 egg lightly beaten
~ 1 cup sour cream
~ 1 tsp vanilla

~ another egg to brush top with and...
~ demerara sugar to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

grease pie dish, lightly roll out crust and add to bottom of dish.

Prepare apples and toss in lemon juice
(the lemon is for taste... I'm considering adding grated lemon peel, too...)

In another bowl, combine dry ingredients.
Combine wet ingredients and add to the dry.
Stir mixture into apples.

add apples to prepared pie dish.

For the topping....

One could just put the other round of pastry on top, tuck under and pinch edges and cut vents in the crust.

OR

One could make a lattice crust.
(There's a great video tutorial at Better Homes and Gardens)

Beat the other egg. Brush on top of the pie. Sprinkle with demerara sugar

Bake for approximately one hour - till golden brown and bubbling.

Let cool to set.

The demerara sugar is a dream with the tartness of the apples!

Perfect!!

and, in fact...

easy-peasy!!! ;)

=)






xo