Apple Pie is truly one of the most iconic dishes in our country. It’s served at cookouts, holidays…Thanksgiving…it’s one of those food items that represents our country.

There is the popular saying “As American as Apple Pie” which was first used in the early 1800s but didn’t become popular until World War II.

The phrase became common for soldiers to say “for mom and apple pie” when speaking to journalists about why they had enlisted in the war. Since World War II, the phrase has been used for anything that symbolizes patriotism in our great land.

Apple Pie was first introduced to the new colonies by European settlers and quickly became popular. The recipe for Apple Pie was first published in 1796 in America’s first cookbook, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons. Here is Amelia Simmons recipe for Apple Pie:

“Stew and strain the apples, to every three pints, grate the peal of a fresh lemon, add cinnamon, mace, rose-water and sugar to your taste – and bake in paste No. 3.

Every species of fruit such as peas, plums, rasberries, black berries may only be sweetned, without spices – and bake in paste No. 3. “

Homemade Apple Pie

Ingredients

5 cups (5 apples) thinly sliced, peeled medium apples (I used Honeycrisp Apples)

¾ cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 package of prepared pie-crust, bake according to instructions and set aside.

Directions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Peel 5 medium apples and slice them thinly until you have 5 cups.

In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients minus the apples and lemon juice. Mix well.

Add lemon juice and apples into the mixture and coat the apples thoroughly.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pie crust.

Add the top layer pie crust and seal the top and bottom together. You can crimp or fork the edges…however you personally like for your edges to be designed.

Take a knife and cut thin slices on the top of the pie to add ventilation while baking – you want those apples to be softened when you finally remove from the oven.

Before going into the oven, line the edges of the pie with aluminum foil for the first 15-20 minutes of baking. This will prevent the crust from burning.

Put the pie into oven, with the aluminum foil wrappings, for 15-20 minutes and remove.

Using a pastry brush, brush melted butter all over the top crust of the pie. Then sprinkle granulated sugar.

Put back into the oven for another 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the apples are softened.

Remove from the oven. Cool for 2-3 hours before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your pie! Maybe even add some vanilla ice cream on top 😋