Thanksgiving Inspiration - Mrs. Dec's Apple Pie

being a personal chef brings up a lot of questions.

what exactly is a personal chef? it's me, cooking specifically for you and your tastes. you approve the menu i plan based on your likes, dislikes, health concerns, and eating goals. i buy the groceries the day of, bring them (and everything else i need) to your house. i cook your meals and leave your fridge stocked, your kitchen clean, and your house smelling heavenly! 

what's your favorite thing to cook? (impossible to answer. it's like asking, what's your favorite thing to eat? um, everything? yes please!)

what culinary school did you go to? (i'm self taught, or rather family taught)

do you ever get tired of cooking? (of course! don't you get tired of your job every now and again? but after a day or two "off", i am always ready to get back in the kitchen!)

is there anything you don't like? (beets, olives, overcooked veggies, and idiots.)

what are you making for thanksgiving/christmas/new years/easter?

this thanksgiving, i am blessed with the "day off" so to speak. perhaps the best gift you can give me is a dinner out, but almost as close is a homemade dinner that i didn't make. don't get me wrong, i LOVE to cook but just like any other job, i need a break every now and again.

my aunt B will be cooking the thanksgiving meal this year (like most every year). she does a smoked turkey that is excellent and my personal favorite, oyster stuffing. i'm from maryland, so i like seafood in anything and everything! to me, thanksgiving isn't complete without sauerkraut too. is that weird? i grew up with sauerkraut at every thanksgiving. i didn't know the rest of the country didn't eat it with their meal until i went to college. maybe it's another maryland thing but i love it with the turkey and gravy. my mom is making garlic roasted green beans with caramelized shallots and we will also have sweet potatoes and of course, cranberry sauce.

the only think i have to bring to dinner is apple pie and an appetite. my apple pie of choice has been one of my favorite desserts since i first tasted one my freshman year of college (i won't tell you how many years ago that was - yikes!) my college roommate, L's mom made this pie every year and L made one for us at JMU. one bite and i was hooked. i used to request this for my birthday from L too (along with tequila - another story for another day). i have been making this myself since i graduated and it is always a big hit with anyone who is lucky enough to eat it.

truth be told, this is not your traditional apple pie. it has a bottom pie crust but on top is the most wonderful combination of butter, sugar, and cinnamon. it's like apple pie and apple crisp got together and had a delicious baby. ok, that was a weird sentence, but it's really the best of both pie and crisp worlds.

aside from peeling and slicing the apples, the recipe is pretty easy. i used a mixture of macintosh, granny smith, and winesap apples for a sweet and tart pie. it's wonderful all fall long and even better right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream. plus, it doubles as breakfast too. wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

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Mrs. Dec's Apple Pie 

filling:
pie crust (i use my own recipe - you can find it here)
4 medium apples, peeled, thinly sliced and chopped
4 tbs flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tbs cinnamon
zest from 1/2 lemon
juice of 1/2 lemon

topping:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 tsp cinnamon

preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

toss cut apples with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and zest. pour into pie crust.

combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon in bowl. add softened butter and use fingers to mix until crumbly. spread crumble mixture over apples and bake on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 400. reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake 45 minutes. remove when topping is browned and pie is starting to show bubbly juices. cool before slicing.

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i also wanted to note while i am baking 2 of mrs. dec's apple pies, i am also bringing how sweet's bourbon pecan pie brownies. not your traditional thanksgiving dessert, but one look at this picture and i had to try them. AB asked me to bring apple pies but i am bringing this too. lord help my belly!

thanks for the recipe mrs. how sweet:)