Apple-palooza

We went to a local orchard and picked apples last weekend. The kids went NUTS, I think we must have brought home 5 pounds of apples. It was a great week -- we had apple pie with a brown sugar and butter crumb topping, a quick apple struedel (from Cook's Illustrated), homemade applesauce and apple salad tonight for dinner.

We've also discovered Ben and Jerry's newest flavor, Cinnamon Bun ice cream. It has been delicious on all our apple desserts.

The apple pie was the favorite -- so here is the recipe (from my mother-in-law).

French Apple Pie
Make a pastry for the bottom of the pie
1 c. sifted flour
1/2 t. salt
1/3 cupt plus 1 Tbl. Crisco
Cut with pastry blender until size of giant peas
Sprinkle iwth 2 Tbl. of water until all is moistened
Form into a ball and roll out

Add 4 c. cored and chopped apples to pie crust (combine varities if possible)

Topping:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar (packed)
1 c. flour
Blend together and spread over the apples

Bake at 400 degress for 45 to 55 minutes on the bottom rack of the oven (watch carefully at the end, the topping will burn)