Tuesdays with Dorie: (deconstructed) Apple Pie

October 26, 2010


This pie started out with such high hopes and unpretentious goals. It had all the potential of becoming the perfect, juicy, flaky-crusted pie of my dreams. And it was...up until I slipped it into the oven. As someone who didn't grow up on pies (we prefered tarts), I'm still trying to perfect double-crusted recipes . I didn't take into account the obvious laws of gravity and it's effects on something made out of butter in a 400 degree oven. Who knew that a crust wouldn't stand a proud 1-inch above the pie plate without any support? All I could do was watch helplessly as the crust 'melted', a la Raiders of the Lost Arc-style, into a sad heap. Occasionally I would have to open the oven and shamefully remove the carnage.


Once the pie had cooled, I did my best to salvage what was left of the crust. It was a far cry from the pleated beauty that had gone into the oven. I hit yet another snag when I tried to remove a slice for pictures. It's back remained stuck to the pie plate, as did the second slice, and the third, and the forth. I tried propping up the crust with a small plate, but it just looked pathetic. So I took the mature route, mashed everything together, and served it in ramekins.

Once I calmed down the bitter perfectionist inside my head, I found the pseudo pie to be extremely delicious! Even though it was a shadow of it's former self, I could still taste the buttery crust, the tart honey-crisp apples, the plump raisins (not my choice) and the mild spice of cinnamon and nutmeg. What it lacked in presentation, it made up for in flavour. Since I'm a bit pied-out from this month's recipes, it may be a while before I try this recipe again. But you're on notice, double crust.


For the complete recipe, please visit Emily's lovely blog, Sandmuffin. Thank you, Emily. Despite everything I have made, an apple pie was on the back-burner of things to try. Had it not been for your choice this week, it may have remained there for far too long. It's always a humbling experience when we learn obvious lessons from a recipe.

16 comments:

  1. I think your pie still looks delicious :-) My crust collapsed a little in the oven too. Mine looked a little like an unmade bed!

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  2. Ah well....it happens. I always remember seeing Martha Stewart's apple pie...so many apples in it that I thought they'd fall off. Guess that's the clue to a nice high apple pie!

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  3. Even your 'failure' looks like a success to me. As long as it tastes good, it's worth trying!

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  4. I have had melting issues with Dorie's crust before, too. This time I think I got lucky ;). Anyway, you made the best out of it!

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  5. Deconstructed or not, it still looks fabulous. In fact, I could go for a little ramekin right now! :)

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  6. Serve it in small glasses, a a dab of whipped cream, and call it "apple pie shooters."

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  7. I think it's a beautiful pie, Valerie. I don't really see what you're describing, but my senses are leaving me lately. So I'll take your word for it (smile). Oh, and it looks delicious. There's nothing like a good apple pie or tart;)

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  8. I bet it did taste delicious, and a bonus that you could eat it with a spoon! I grew up on double crust apple pies, so never give them a second thought. Buttercream is more likely to cause me problems--I can never get the temperature just right.
    :)

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  9. don't be too hard on yourself - it was your first time, right? from what i see in the photos, your pie looks like a success...and from a taste standpoint, it sounds like it was a winner!

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  10. Sounds like making (and baking) this pie was an adventure for you! Good job thinking of a creative solution with the ramekins! It still looks delicious, and I'm sure it tasted amazing!!!

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  11. Apples piled high with sugar n' spice! It all is nice~ Pile on the ice cream or a Crumbly brown sugar mix and enJOY!

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  12. Still looks and sounds delicious. I usually slice my apples instead of dicing them. It may help with keeping the shape of the slices better. It's hard to get the bottom out!

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  13. the decontstructed version looks good too! and probably healthier without the pastry :) xoxo Tia @ Buttercreambarbie

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  14. Great save, it looks really good to me! Crab boat, huh..fun job that would be!:0

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  15. looks like it worked out well enough to eat! just top it with some ice cream and you are good to go:-)

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  16. Um... that is NOT a failure... I chickened out and didn't even do a top crust. But apple pie is to the baker's choice - there are many variations and what might be one's failure is one's success! It's a gorgeous dessert!

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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