Apples in North Georgia

 

I love Fall with the leaves changing, pumpkins everywhere, apple cider, and delicious apples from North Georgia. I went to Mercier’s Apple Orchard to get apples for pies for my husband, Tony. 

We also picked up apple cider donuts and apple cider. They have a tasting bar where you can sample the apples that you’d like to buy, a bakery, honey, wine and more. Fun-filled apple day!

Here’s my favorite recipe for pie crust from Tony’s Aunt Val:

Vinegar Egg Pastry (German) – From Tony’s Aunt Val Santoro

Makes enough for one 9” or 10” double crust pie or two pastry shells.

1 egg

1 Tbsp.  white vinegar

½ cup of ice water

4 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 ¾ cups Crisco butter flavored shortening

1.   Beat egg lightly in a small bowl. Beat in vinegar and ice water. (I usually put all in a bowl and beat then.)

2.   Combine flour sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture is consistency of blended coarse meal.

3.   Add all but 2 Tbsp. of the egg mixture and mix quickly with a fork until the dough can be gathered into a ball. Sprinkle in the reserve mixture if pastry seems dry. Wrap in plastic wrap, chill thoroughly before using.

4.   Shape and bake following the directions in individual pie recipes.

5.   I roll between sheets of plastic wrap then flip onto the pie plate.

Enjoy!   

Pam Santoro

#pies #apples #orchards #applecider #PamSantoroRealtor