Grandma's Apple Pie (Pi Day)

Here is a very punny picture that I call an Apple Pi pie. Well, that was a lame attempt at being funny. Getting down to business. This is basically the grandma's apple pie recipe that has been handed down for generations and has been used in every holiday imaginable from Christmas Day to the next Thanksgiving Feast!
Ingredients: Pastry for a double-crust pie (9 inches),  6-7 cups of thinly sliced and peeled tart apples (about 2.5 pounds). 1 Tbs lemon juice, 1 cup granulated sugar. 2 Tbs all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, dash ground nutmeg, 2 Tbs butter, 2% milk, and additional sugar. 
Directions (yields 6-8 servings): Line a 9 inch pie plate with a bottom pastry; trim the pastry evenly with the edge of the plate and set aside. In a large bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice. Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Arrange half the apples in the pastry shell; sprinkle with half of the sugar mixture. Repeat layers. Dot with butter. Roll out the remaining pastry to fit the top of the pie; place over the filling. Trim, seal and flute edegs. Cut slits in the pastry and cut out part of the pastry to make the Pi sign on the top of the pie. Brush with milk and sprinkle with additional sugar. Cover the edges loosely with foil. bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake 30-35 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Serve warm if desired or cool on a wire rack! Dig in and enjoy! 

Nutella Crack Pie (Yes...it is the name of this recipe)

In honor of Pi Day, I decided to post up a second pie recipe :) Of course, this could have been used during World Nutella Day but that was on February 5th so that’s too far away! 

Oat Cookie Pie Crust: 9 Tbs. butter at room temperature, 5.5 Tbs. Brown sugar, 2 Tbs. Sugar, 1 large egg, 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. rolled oats, 1/2 cup flour, 1/8 tsp. baking soda, 1/8 tsp. baking powder, pinch of salt. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit, line a large baking pan with parchment paper, and spray with nonstick spray. In a mixer, beat together 6 Tbs of the butter, 4 Tbs. of brown sugar, and 2 Tbs of sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat in thoroughly. Add the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and beat until well blended. Spread the oat mixture out onto a parchment lined baking sheet and cook for 15-18 minutes until done. Remove and cool cookie completely. When the cookie is cool, break into crumbs and add to a large bowl along with 3 Tbs. butter and 1.5 Tbs. brown sugar. Rub together with fingertips until crumb mixture is moist enough to hold together in a clump when squeezed in your hand. Spread the mixture out into a lined baking tart pan, or two depending on the size and using fingers, press crumbs onto the bottom and sides to form a pie shell (Use the flat bottom of a cup or glass to help press in). 

Nutella Crack Pie Filling

Get 1.5 cups of sugar, 3/4 cup plus 3 Tbs. brown sugar, 1/4 tsp of salt, 1 cup of Nutella, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1 tsp. vanilla, 8 egg yolks, and powdered or confectioners sugar for garnish. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and salt. Whisk Nutella, cream, and vanilla on low speed. Whisk in the egg yolks on low speed so there is not too much air, and combine it well. It will appear to be very loose.

Divide the filling into pie shells and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and continue to cook for about 15-20 minutes until the center is not too jiggly. Cool on a rack and then keep it in the fridge for a couple hours. It’s best served when chilled!