Apple Pi

To celebrate Pi day in my daughter's class, some parents were asked to bring pies to the school. I brought a homemade apple pie and a store-bought chocolate pie. As the children lined up and began choosing their slices, I was surprised to see that all the nasty store-bought pies were the first to go. I'm not complaining about bringing home an empty store-bought pie tin and an almost-whole apple pie, just a bit surprised considering the fact that the apple pie I made was the only homemade one there.

Here is the recipe for the filling..

1/2 Cup sugar

1 1/2 Cups pineapple juice

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind

4 Cups apple slices

Pastry for 9 inch pie

2 Tblsp. cornstarch

2 tsp. cold water

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 Tblsp. butter

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Combine sugar, pineapple juice, spices and lemon rind. Bring to a boil. Add apple slices and simmer 10 minutes. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry. Lift apple slices out of syrup and put in pie shell. Dissolve cornstarch in water. Stir into syrup in pan and cook until mixture thickens. Stir in vanilla, butter and walnuts. Pour over apples.

I made a streusel topping for this pie but you could place criss-crossed pie crust over the top as well. Bake at 450* for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350* and bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!