Hope it's not too late, I just now saw this post. Here's the recipe my Sisters and I use. It's seems harder than it is. I love it. Hope you do too.
The Perfect Apple Pie
Recipe Rating:
Prep Time: 35 min
Total Time: 1 hr 25 min
Makes: 10 servings
2-1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
5 to 7 Tbsp. ice cold water
6 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (about 4 large apples)
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp. lemon juice (optional)
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Mix flour and salt in large bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
ADD water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, mixing lightly with fork until flour mixture is evenly moistened and clings together when pressed into a ball. Divide dough in half; shape each half into 1/2-inch-thick round. Wrap each dough round in plastic wrap; refrigerate 10 to 15 min.
MEANWHILE, toss apples with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice in large bowl; set aside. Place 1 dough round between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap; roll out dough with rolling pin to flatten slightly, working from center of dough to the edge. Turn over; continue rolling until dough round is about 2 inches larger than diameter of inverted 9-inch pie plate.
PEEL off top piece of plastic wrap; invert dough into pie plate. Peel off remaining piece of plastic wrap; press dough evenly onto bottom and up side of pie plate, being careful not to stretch the dough. Trim any dough hanging over edge of pie plate with sharp knife or kitchen scissors; reserve trimmings.
FILL with apple mixture; set aside. Roll out remaining dough as directed; place over filling. Trim top crust about 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold edge of top crust under edge of bottom crust; pinch edges together to form a ridge. Flute edge (see Tip). Cut several slits near center of pie to allow steam to escape.
BAKE 45 to 50 min. or until juices form bubbles that burst slowly. Cool.
Decorative Crust
Use small cookie cutters to cut-out decorative shapes from the top crust or the leftover pastry trimmings. Arrange on top of crust.
Finishing Touches
Brush top of crust with lightly beaten egg white before baking (for shiny top), a whole egg (for golden brown top) or brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar (for a sparkling top |