North America: U.S.A
I would disappoint you a bit with the traditional American Pie; an origin of the American apple Pie has its sources in fourteenth century England when the English substituted the meat pies with fruits. The American Apple Pie was passed by the colonials to the Americans and a perfect apple pie needs that much perfection to assemble and must say this requires deft in preparation. The American Apple Pie has the following recipe:
Ingredients:
Pastry:
12 tablespoons butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4.5oz cream cheese
2 tablespoons ice water
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
Filling:
2-1/2 pounds apples (peeled, cored and sliced)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1-1/2 cornstarch
Method:
1. In a food processor crumble cream cheese and flour (sifted with salt and baking powder), pulse in butter, water and vinegar.
2. Divide the mixture into two plastic bags and knead it properly until the dough becomes a little stretchy.
3. Refrigerate the dough and roll out the bottom crust with 1/8 inch thick or less and 12 inches in diameter. Transfer this into a pie pan and refrigerate it.
4. For the filling toss apples, lemon juices, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
5. Collect the liquid from the mixture and then boil this with butter until caramelized.
6. Pour this syrup over the apples.
7. Transfer this apple mixture into the pastry shell and cover it with the top crust.
8. Slash the top crust with fork and wrap the pie with plastic bag.
9. Preheat the oven up to 425°F and bake it for an hour.
10. Cool the pie before serving.
Aah! Now I came to know why the Apple Pie had to be perfect enough…to be ‘American as Apple Pie’.
