Thursday, September 17, 2009

reading + food = delicious learning!

The latest book study Claire & I are doing for school (through Five In A Row vol.1) is

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
by Marjorie Priceman



There's a lot of great lessons for these FIAR book studies, including lessons in language arts, math, geography, history, science, and art. Of course, our favorite part, though, is when the lesson includes something involving food!




Speedy Streusel Pie

(you can use a refrigerated pie crust from the store, but they're so easy & inexpensive to make at home, and baking is such a fun project for kids)

Crust:
1 1/3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
3-4 Tbsp. cold water

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Add shortening, cut it in using a pastry blender or two forks, until you have pieces the size of dry oats. Add the water & mix until well blended.

You can roll it out the old fashioned way, or I just like to put the crust ball in the pie plate, spread it out and up the sides using my fingers, and use the back of a big spoon to smooth it out.

crust


Streusel Topping:
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. brown sugar
3 Tbsp. butter/margarine
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I don't use these, it's still good without the nuts)

Mix flour & sugar in a small bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two forks. Set aside.


Filling:
5 baking apples (2 lb.)
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp. cornstarch

Peel, core & slice the apples. I use one of these - a worthy investment, as I make more apple things since I got it & even use it for potatoes.

Toss the lemon juice and vanilla with the apples in a big bowl. Mix the sugar, cinnamon & cornstarch in a small bowl, then add to apples & toss to coat.

apples


Add apples into the crust, spread them out evenly. I like to pull the edges of the pie crust inward (like a crostada), it keeps juices from spilling over the edge during baking.

Start this pie out in the microwave! Really! It cuts the baking time by 2/3, but the pie still turns out fabulously!

micro

Put it in the microwave, for 8 minutes (if your microwave doesn't have a rotating glass plate that turns the food during cooking, then you need to turn the pie yourself after 4 minutes.)

While the microwave is running, preheat the oven to 400°.

When the 8 minutes in the microwave is up, immediately move the pie to the oven (use oven mitts!) for 18-22 minutes.

finished



Served warm, this pie is a delight... but anytime is a good time for apple pie!


slice

5 comments:

Audra said...

I love the photo of your daughter watching the pie cool! That says it all!

Deborah said...

Ooooh, that looks good!

Rosebud Collection said...

Now that is a happy dish..Apples/fall/pie..comfort food. Daughter is so cute looking at the finished dish.

littlebird said...

Mmmmmmm i am gonna be makin apple pie this week end, hopin mine looks this good!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh that looks good!