Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sorry, I haven't been active in this guild for nearly two years, but this recipe was just too good to keep to myself.

I came across multiple apple pie recipes in the past - none which I've ever been too impressed with until now. Seriously, very good apple pie right here! I took two differant existing recipes and blended them together to my tastes. I hope you all enjoy! It really isn't as complicated as it might seem.

Filling:

10 Apples, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Sprinkle of vanilla
Lemon juice
Cornstarch

Crumble:

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon sugar
2 dashes of salt
2 tablespoon butter, at room temperature

Base:

10-inch pie shell
Apple skins and cores
Lemon peels
Cinnamon sticks
Fresh grated ginger
Sugar
Apple juice
Vanilla

Preheat oven to 400°F, then reduce to 375°F after pie is in the oven.

Place apple skins, cores, lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, and fresh grated ginger, into a saucepan with sugar and half cup of apple juice. Simmer over low heat for about an hour and strain, reserving the liquid. Thicken 1/2 cup of the strained liquid with 1-2 tsp cornstarch. Add 1/4 tsp vanilla, mix into the sliced and peeled apples, and pour into the pie shell. The liquid is enough for one 10-inch pie about 4 inches tall at center. Adjust according to your pie size.

Mix the nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon with the sugar. Sprinkle the sugar with a few drops of pure vanilla extract. Work the butter and 2 Tablespoons flour or other thickener into the sugar. Slice the apples into thin wedges and place apples pie-crust. Mound apples higher in center. Sprinkle over the apples the juice of 1/2 lemon, then sprinkle the sugar-spice mixture over the apples evenly.

Bake about 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.