The story, the recipe, the photos
My Grandma Casey made incredible apple pie. It wasn't artisanal or elegant or organic or fancy, but it was wholesome, simple, warm and always made the family smile. Kind of like the woman herself.
Below is the very straightforward, easy to make apple pie recipe, as she told it to my dad, and as he wrote it down and gave to me after she died.
The photos are all mine, showing the step by step making of Grandma Casey's apple pie in my own kitchen. Took me about 15 minutes of prep time (pie crust not included) and 60 minutes of oven time. And turned out oh so yummy.
P.S. I made this lens for the Squidoo Thanksgiving Cookoff (for Charity) in support of Donors Choose.
The recipe, pure and simple
Unedited. As told to John Casey, 11/28/1991
5-6 Golden Delicious Apples (Mom Casey thinks they have the best flavor)
3/4 cup refined sugar
3/4 of a Dixie cup of apple juice (Mom Casey likes apple juice)
Flour
Cinnamon
Butter
Milk
Pie crust
Directions:
Mom slices the apples with a grater
Put pie crust in pan, add 2 tbsp flour
Add 1/2 of apples, sprinkle 1/2 of sugar
Add next 1/2 of apples, sprinkle with rest of sugar
Pour apple juice over apples and sugar
Sprinkle with 2 tbsp of flour (to absorb the apple juice)
Sprinkle with cinnamon and add pats of butter
Put on top and lightly brush with milk (mom uses her fingers)
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 min
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 mins
Let pie cool and then enjoy the best apple pie in the world!!
Alterations to the recipe
What I change when I make my grandma's pie today:I use Granny Smith apples instead of Golden Delicious, because I prefer a tarter, tangier flavor.
I use only half the sugar, for the same reason.
I sprinkle some powdered vanilla in with the cinnamon and a little nutmeg before putting on the basket weave top.
Otherwise, I use her recipe exactly as above.
Making the pie, step by step
a little slideshow
Creating a base of sliced apples. My grandmother's recipe asks for golden delicious, but I used Granny Smith for a tarter pie.
Must have item #1: A great rolling pin
Sturdy, good heft, rolls well, beautiful bamboo
Helen's Asian Kitchen Bamboo 18-Inch Rolling Pin, Caramelized
Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/22/2009)
It works wonders on pie crusts!
Must have item #2: The OXO Apple Corer
to get rid of the seeds and apple core
Oxo Good Grips Corer
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/22/2009)
What about the pie crust?
Grandma Casey didn't write down her pie crust recipe, so I have to guess at what works best with her pies. Here are some other lenses, by other bakers out there, with what look to be very tasty pie crust recipes. Dig in!-
Easy Peasy Pie Crust
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Follow my easy steps and overcome your fear of homemade pie crusts. It is not as hard as it looks and the extra effort is truly worth it! Making pie crust is an easy way to impress your friends and family! If they knew only knew how easy it actually...
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The Best, Flakiest Pie Crust WITHOUT Adding Water
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As we all know, nothing tastes better than homemade - and that includes pie crust! Though pie crust may seem daunting, when you find the right recipe, you may find yourself, (like I did), wondering why you went through so much frustration. All that...
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How To Make Apple Pie
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I love apple pie, the delightful smell as it bakes, the flaky crust and sweet spicey filling. There are a few secrets to making a great apple pie, so keep reading to learn more... First of all you need to start with the very best ingredien...
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Tender, flaky, delicious whole wheat pie crust
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This is Giddy's own home-made, whole wheat pie crust recipe, and boy is it good! Flaky, buttery, and with the wholesomeness and nutty flavor that only stone-ground, whole wheat flour can give. Fill this shell with Giddy's Broccoli-Pepper custard for a...
Comments and other apple pie recipes
Post a link if you have another apple pie recipe you love
thanks!
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Reply
- JohnCasey JohnCasey Dec 19, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
- Never, ever use Grannie Smith apples. Golden Delicious are the ONLY apples too use. Oh, sure, people have free will and want to experiment (hello Adam & Eve) But, avoid the sin of using the "bad" apples!!!!!!
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- sha2 sha2 Dec 19, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
- So amazing that you are so charitable and give all your earnings to charity! Way to go.
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- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Dec 2, 2009 @ 2:01 am
- It looks delicious!
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- Nancie Nancie Nov 27, 2009 @ 12:34 am
- Okay, I am now officially Grandma Casey since I am Megan and Clancy's mother and have three grandsons also with the name CASEY. Megan challenged her Dad to a bakeoff tonight (Thanksgiving) and I have to say, Poppa made a great apple pie. A real bakeoff would have been where Megan also made a pie and we sat down and compared them. But nooooooo...so since we are spending Christmas at Megan's house, she gets to make the pie. I think Squidoo may need another contest for charity with Christmas recipes! PS Our son who was with his in-laws in Michigan attempted to make Grandma's Apple Pie but the photo he sent us looked like he used the wrong side of his slicer/grater. He "shredded" the apples so they almost looked like applesauce!!! Interesting, we didn't get a phone call from him today!!! And he said HE was going to out bake us???? hah
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- HappyBusyBee HappyBusyBee Nov 25, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
- Okay, first I'm cracking up at the playful family banter going on here in the comments. Second, Megan I'm so slow, this is your first non-official related lens I've visited by it's smashtastic! I look forward to being around here a bit more. :D
Hugs,
Holly
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- JohnCasey JohnCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 2:46 pm
- Do NOT use Granny Smith apples. Grammy Dorf would roll over in her grave if she knew. don't disgrace your grandmother!
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- ClancyCasey ClancyCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
- Okay you two! IT IS ON!!!!!! I'm going to out-bake both of you. And, much like officially reported government statistics, nobody will ever be able to refute my claims to superiority because my pies will be in Michigan and you won't be able to taste them. aa HAAAA!!!!
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- JohnCasey JohnCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
- If you think you are going to challenge me, the son of the world's greatest apple pie maker to a bake off, you have such a mental vacancy, you should be foreclosed upon. Besides, you probably use those socialistictic Granny Smith apples, not American Golden Deiicious, the apple of choice by Grandma Casey!!!!!! The game is afoot!!!
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- JohnCasey JohnCasey Nov 19, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
- This is blasphemy. You don't use Granny Smith apples. Who is she to interlope on my mom's pies. This is a Grandma Casey pie. Could be legal action!!!!
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- MeganCasey MeganCasey Nov 24, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
- I challenge you to a bakeoff on Thursday.
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- KarateKatGraphics KarateKatGraphics Nov 16, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
- I need that rolling pin. Ours has mysteriously disappeared. Probably being used by the boys as a tool or weapon (hopefully the former). Your pie looks delish! A little vanilla or cinnamon ice cream on top would balance the tangy Granny Smiths perfectly. But then I put ice cream on everything :P
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- jgelien jgelien Nov 6, 2009 @ 9:59 am
- Okay, I admit it. I actually don't like pumpkin pie. For Thanksgiving I always prefer apple. This recipe sounds yummy and I intend to try it this year. Thank you for sharing and
making this lens for such a great cause. 5 stars
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- GrowWear GrowWear Nov 5, 2009 @ 11:32 am
- Looks delicious. I like the tart-flavored apple pie as well.
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- enslavedbyfaeries enslavedbyfaeries Nov 3, 2009 @ 12:40 am
- I think family recipes like this should be treasured just like old photos. I make many of my grandmother's recipes and have fond childhood memories of the comforting meals she prepared. Thanks for sharing your recipe. It looks absolutely scrumptious!!
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- MeganCasey MeganCasey Nov 13, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
- Agreed! A good recipe is a great handmedown.
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by MeganCasey
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