Apple Pie Recipe

July 5, 2004 -- A summer gift from all of us to all of you. For those of you who saw ourbroadcast last Friday, "As American As Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie,"and for those of you who missed it too, here is the recipe for the applepie we featured, courtesy of the kind folks at the Campanile Restaurant inLos Angeles.

Nancy Silverton's Mom's Apple Pie

Yield 1 10-inch pie

1 recipe Flaky pastry

1 ¼ pounds Granny smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons maple sugar or maple syrup

1 tablespoon apple cider jelly (optional)

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

For the pie dough:

3 ½ cups pastry flour

1 ½ teaspoons salt

4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter

8 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening

¾ cup water plus ice to measure 1 cup

Sift together the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. Cut the butterinto ½ inch cubes and toss with the vegetable shortening and the flouruntil the cubes are coated. Crumble the butter into the flour by rubbingyour thumbs and fingertips together, lifting the pieces and letting themfall back down again. Continue until the mixture resembles coarsecornmeal. Add the water a little at a time, starting with about ½ cup,and mix just until the mixture comes together. Add the remaining ¼ cupwater if the flour is not absorbed. The amount of water the dough needswill depend on the moisture in the flour and the humidity.

Gather the dough together and knead briefly on a lightly floured boarduntil forms a smooth ball. Chill at least 2 hours before rolling out.

For the apple filling:

In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter with thevanilla bean, swirling the pan until the butter becomes foamy and beginsto brown. Pour the mixture over the apples. Toss to combine. Add thecider jelly if using, and toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, combine sugar, maple sugar (or syrup if using),cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour over the apples, tossing to combine.