An apple a day . . .
It’s officially autumn, and we all know what that means—apple-picking time. Yum, yum! Apple-dapple cake. Fried apple pies. Apple fritters. Candied apples. Apple crisp. Apple cider. Apple cider donuts. Stewed apples. Applesauce . . .
And Grandma Carlton’s apple pie with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Oh, my watering mouth.
Precious Memories
In the backyard of my childhood home, we had an apple tree. I have no clue which variety of apple this tree produced. However, I do remember that they were cooking apples and that a bite of this freshly picked fruit would cause me to pucker, shake my head, and repeatedly spit. YUCK!
But peel and slice this fruit, stir in sugar and spices, add the mixture to a pie crust, and bake—and let the magic begin. As Grandma Carlton would say, “That’s some mighty good eating.”
My grandmother ought to know for she was a master of traditional Southern cuisine. (Chicken fried in a cast iron pan. Made-from-scratch biscuits. Candied yams.) I suppose that there was nothing she liked better in this world than feeding her family.
Lucky me. But I digress.
Enjoy her apple pie recipe. (Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!)
Grandma Carlton’s Apple Pie
5-7 cooking apples
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
2 T. all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg
Core, peel, and slice apples. Mix remaining
ingredients and add to apples.
2 9-inch pastry crusts
Butter pats
Fill 9-inch pie pan with pastry crust. Pour apple
mixture into pan and spread evenly. Dot with
butter pats. Add top crust. Cut slits in top crust.
Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.
Speaking of apples . . .
Did you know that the word “apple” occurs in the Old Testament several times and is used symbolically to represent beauty and something valuable and deserving of protection?
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Proverbs 25:11 KJV
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved. Song of Solomon 2:3a KJV
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
Psalm 17:8 KJV
These verses are worthy of our rumination—regardless of the season.
Do you have a special apple-picking memory? Or a favorite apple recipe? Please share it with me.
Happy Fall, y’all.