Apple Pie and Applesauce

The other weekend, I ended up making a cherry pie (photos will come later) and an apple pie. I had a go-to pie crust recipe for years, but it stopped working as well as I liked it. So, I decided to try a new one and loved it—recipe is below.

I did, however, stick with my tried and true apple pie recipe—something I have sort of become known for in my family. I usually serve the pie warm with vanilla ice cream. 

Ingredients – PIE CRUST

3 cups all-purpose flour

 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

 3 tablespoons white sugar

 1 cup shortening

 1 egg

 1 teaspoon of either vanilla or almond extract (depending upon the type of pie you are making)

 5 tablespoons water

Directions – PIE CRUST

1.       In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Mix well, then cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.

2.       In a small bowl, combine egg, vinegar, and 4 tablespoons of water. Whisk together, then add gradually to flour mixture, stirring with a fork. Mix until dough forms a ball. Add one more tablespoon of water if necessary.

3.       Allow dough to rest in refrigerator 10 minutes before rolling out.

4.       When rolling out, roll out on parchment paper—it makes transferring the crust so much easier. 

IngredientS – APPLE PIE

 1/2 cup unsalted butter

 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

 10 apples – peeled, cored and sliced

DIRECTIONS – APPLE PIE

1.       Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.

2.       Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.

3.       Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

I had a ton of apples, so with the apples that did not end up in the pie, I baked them with cinnamon and a touch of sugar, pureed them and made applesauce for Alex’s lunches.

Crepes: An Easy Weekend Breakfast

The other weekend, we had Andy’s father visiting us and I decided that, instead of going down the street to buy a $10 crepe, I would make my own. I stumbled upon this recipe, which is so easy and such a crowd pleaser.

I used a variety of toppings for the crepes: cherries, chopped apples with cinnamon and sugar, bananas and peanut butter. Everyone got to make their own crepe and everyone enjoyed them. Plus, they were so easy to make!

  

Ingredients

2 cups of all-purpose flour

2 eggs

1 cup of milk

1 cup of water

Dash of salt

4 tablespoons of butter, melted

Directions

1.       In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.

2.       Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

3.       Cook the crepe for about two minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Add your favorite toppings and serve hot.

Holiday Train Show – Bronx Botanical Garden

The other weekend, when Andy’s mother was in town, we took her to the holiday train show at the Bronx Botanical Garden. Alex, of course, really loved the trains, but I really loved the re-creation of some of NY’s most iconic landmarks made entirely from items found in nature. 

We entered the gardens and there was a train ice sculpture. 

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, the nation's largest Victorian glasshouse. 

A word of caution: As with most things in NY, go EARLY! We had tickets for 10am, got there at 9:50am and sailed right in. By the time we left, the line was starting to wrap around outside. 

Re-creation of Macy’s. 

The old Penn Station. Every time I see images of this, I am so sad that it was torn down—what a travesty!

The re-creation of the Conservatory at the Bronx Botanical Gardens. 

 

The Chrysler building. 

 The Rose Center at the Museum of Natural History—where we spend so many of our summer weekends.

After the train show, we went to the children’s center, where Alex made a bag of pine needles, checked out different pine cones on the property and, of course, played with trains. 

Navy Football Game

 

The other weekend, we were in Maryland and we went to the last Navy home football game of the season. I grew up in a football family, but I am not a football fan anymore—I do not particularly enjoy watching the game, nor do I really appreciate most of the fans.

  

That said, this game, and all Navy home games, tend to be the most family-friendly games I have ever been to. People are polite and the school really gears the game to be an environment that is safe and respectful. In addition, they have this huge hill where you can sit, picnic style, and watch the game. The kids run up and down the hill, roll down the hill, etc. It is a great place for kids, and Alex talked about the game for days after! 

Alex loved the cannon that went off after a Navy touchdown and for every kick off. 

We got pretzels, nachos and funnel cake, and enjoyed hot chocolate after the sun went down. 

My dad brought a piece of cardboard for Alex to slide down the hill. 

Getting ready to roll down to Aunt Amanda. 

A little out of focus, but Andy and I rarely have photos of just the two of us, so I am including it!

The final highlight of the night was the bald eagle that came to the hill and the kids all got to pet it!

It was a really fun outing and I can see this becoming a family tradition.