Cheddar crust apple pie (little pie company)

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
Cheddar Dough:
cupUnbleached all-purpose flour
¼cupCake flour
¼teaspoonSalt
1Stick unsalted butter,
Frozen solid, slightly
Thawed
2tablespoonsLard or vegetable shortening
Frozen solid, slightly
Thawed
1cupGrated extra-sharp Cheddar
Cheese
2teaspoonsWhite vinegar mixed with 1/3
cupVery cold water
Apple Filling:
6To 7 large Delicious apples
(3 pounds), peeled, cored
And sliced thinly
Into 1/16-inch thick slices
2tablespoonsFreshly-squeezed lemon juice
1cupSugar, plus additional for
Sprinkling
cupUnbleached all-ppurpose
Flour
¾teaspoonCinnamon
teaspoonSalt
2tablespoonsUnsalted butter, softened
1Egg beaten with 1 tablespoon
Cold water, for glaze

Directions

Make dough: In workbowl of a food processor fitted with metal blade combine flours and salt. Cut butter and lard into small pieces, add to workbowl and process 5 seconds. Add cheese and pulse on-off 2 times to mix. With motor running, pour in enough vinegar mixture in a slow steady stream for dough to form a ball; process 10 to 15 seconds. Turn dough out onto work surface. If dough appears too dry, work in 1 to 2 more teaspoons water. Specks of butter and cheese will be visible in dough. Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or overnight before using.

Make filling: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. As you slice apples, toss them gently with lemon juice. Whisk together sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt, add to apple slices and toss gently to coat evenly.

Divide dough into 2 unequal pieces, making piece for top crust slightly larger. On a lightly-floured work surface roll smaller piece into an 11-inch round. Line pie plate with bottom crust and fill with apples. Using your hands shape them into a firmly-packed mound slightly higher in center than at sides; dot with butter. Trim edges of bottom crust to a 3-inch overhang. Roll out remaining dough to an 11-inch round and arrange over filling. Trim edges of top crust to a :-inch overhang, fold top crust under edge of bottom crust and flute edges decoratively, pressing together with your thumb and forefinger.

Cut 3 1¾-inch slashes in center of top crust.

Bake pie 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F and continue to bake 30 to 40 minutes more, until pastry is golden brown and juices are bubbling. Ten minutes before end of baking, brush top with egg glaze and sprinkle with sugar. Cool on a wire rack before serving slightly warm or at room temperature.

Yield: 8 Servings

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