Apple Pie

I have been baking up a storm this past week, being in the kitchen helps lift my spirits and lets me deal with my emotions. T is still my friend, she (kind of) admitted she was wrong and stated that she didn't want anything to come between our friendship, I'm doing better... not 100% yet but almost. Anyhow...

Out of the blue, Sunday morning, Anna asked why I don't make pie. I reminded her of all the plum/apple tarts we made in the summer and fall but she said they aren't real pies. So I asked her what kind of pie would she like to make and after some silly talk of chocolate moose(animal), peanut butter pumpkin and strawberry bugs we decided on apple. We googled some recipes and Anna chose what she wanted and off to the kitchen we went.  Our apple harvest this fall was healthy and plentiful and we were able to store some apples in the basement. Mike brought up a box for us to use, the little apples were soft and wrinkly but still good and they made the pie very sweet but not overly so. I don't usually post recipes but I'll make concessions with this one, too good not to share! It's a mix of different recipes and from my memory, so hopefully I won't leave anything out.

Anna's Apple Pie

Dough:
2 1/4 cups  flour, all purpose
1  tsp         salt
1  tbsp       sugar, white
1  cup        Tenderflake (shortening/lard)
6-7 tbsp    cold water

Filling:
Apples! enough to filling pie plate heaping, I didn't measure/count
3/4 - 1 cup  Brown sugar
2  tbsp     cornstarch
1/2 tsp     pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg/cloves mix
1-2 tsp    cinnamon
2 pinches salt
1-2 tbsp   dairy free margarine (butter, marg)

Topping:
1-2 tbsp  Almond milk (rice, soy or cow's milk)
1 tbsp     course sugar

Directions:
Dough: mix dry ingredients. Cut shortening into flour mix with pastry blender or by rubbing hands together, (good job for kids) till shortening is small pea size.  Drizzle water one tbsp at a  time and onto mixture and toss with a knife (prevents overmixing) until mixture forms and holds a ball shape when gripped with hands. cut dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.  Roll out half on floured counter and place in pie shell. Roll out other half and slice into long strips for lattice top or roll out into one sheet for regular top.

Filling:
Peel and slice apples, small and thin (1"x2"x1/8").  Mix dry ingredients thoroughly and then toss with apples. Dump onto dough in pie shell and dot with marg.

Topping:
Place top layer of dough on pie filling, lattice or regular (regular will need some vent holes) crimp, press around the edges. Brush top dough with milk and sprinkle course sugar all over evenly.
Bake at 425F for 15mins and then 350F for 50 mins and enjoy!

This has to be the flakiest crust I've ever made! The brown sugar lends the pie a caramel flavour that we all love but you can use white sugar for a more traditional feel. *Mom, notice the glass pie plate you gave me! I still have it and love it!*

True Friends?

I'm having a pity party this week. 
I'm feeling used and abused. 
It's hard to get my feelings out, I feel like crying but can't.

My friend T has let me down a few times this week and it's really effecting my emotions.  Usually I can let things slide but this is sticking with me, I thought maybe I was feeling depressed but Mike says he feels the same towards T and my feelings are justified. That only helps a little because then I can't blame these feelings on "feeling blue", there are real reasons behind it all and I'm wondering what kind of friend is T and her husband....

Why can't I keep friends, am I too picky?  Why is it so hard...?

I can't wait for spring.

Melting...

I'm melting... Melting....

Well, not me really but the snow outside. It's been above freezing for 4-5 days now and all the snow/ice on the side roads have turned into squishy yucky slush!  The tire tracks are still frozen but the dog pulls me off the slim path and into the slush while we are out for our walks... and my boots are not very waterproof any more since he decided they taste better that his raw hide treats.

Samuel is such a handsome dog.  He is growing like a weed, already taller and heavier than Rupert ever was, sometimes we forget he is still a puppy not even 6 months old. But this puppy is chewing on my last nerve!  Saturday he stole food (the girls) off the table 3 times in one hour and that's with telling him NO, smacking on the nose and sticking him in the kennel after every theft! Sunday he stole Ivy's lunch when she went to the bathroom!  It's not like he is staving, he gets fed 3 times a day and has lots of pig's ears, raw hides and toys.  We think it was an act of rebellion because Mike was away for the weekend to his friends in Castlegar.  It's frustrating to no end!  When it's just me and Samuel all day during the week, he is very well behaved. We have our routine and know what to expect from each other but when the girls and Mike are home, sheesh! It all goes out the door!

Well, anyhow back to the weather.  I hope spring has sprung, I hope winter isn't hiding around the corner waiting for everything to melt, for plants to green up and then Blam it hits us again with freezing and snow and ruins the trees.... I guess the only thing to do is wait...

Mike was saying the passes have hardly any snow, and if it continues to melt it will be an early break up and without the snow pack it will be a long dry summer which means a long fire season as well. And that scares the heck out of me!!

Anyhow, it'll be a busy week for me, just about every day at the school. Time to get going....