Michael's Upside Down Apple Pie

Serves: 5

Fatima Kris

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

39

Sweetness

48

Sourness

42

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Brown Sugar

1 cup

Sugar

1

Lemon

1 pinch

Nutmeg (grated)

Directions:

1

Special equipment: 1 deep dish glass pie pan To make pastry sift flour into a bowl

2

Cut cold butter into small pieces with a wire cheese cutter

3

Add butter to flour and work it into the flour with the back of a fork

4

Do not use your hands or anything that would add heat to the mixture

5

When the butter has been worked into the flour as much as possible, add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time and mix it in with a large spoon

6

It will probably only take 2 or 3 tablespoons of water to form the dough

7

As soon as the dough can be rolled into a ball in the bowl put it in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator

8

When the dough has been in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour, start to coat the bottom of the pie pan

9

I prefer to use the deepest pie pan I can find

10

Spread 1 tablespoon of butter over the bottom and sides of the pie pan

11

Depending on the size of the pan you might have to use more or less, but I like my coating to be generous

12

Then sprinkle 1/3 cup of brown sugar over the butter, with a light coating covering the bottom and sides

13

As with the butter you may have to use more or less depending on pan size

14

Then place the pecan nut halves, flat side up, on the bottom and sides of the pan

15

I start in the middle with 1 nut and then put the rest in circles around the center, closely spaced

16

Finish with a layer of nuts covering the side of the pan

17

The entire bottom and sides should be covered with nuts

18

Next take the dough out of the refrigerator, cut the ball in 1/2, wrap 1/2 in the plastic wrap and put it back in the refrigerator

19

Roll out the other 1/2 taking care not to handle the dough too much

20

Place the rolled out dough in the pie pan over the pecan nut coating, and trim the edges

21

Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator

22

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F

23

To make the filling place 1/4 cup of butter and 1 cup of sugar in a small pan and cook over medium heat

24

When the butter and sugar have mixed into a liquid form add 1/2 vanilla bean

25

Stir the mixture constantly until it starts to turn brownish, or caramelized

26

Then remove it from the heat

27

Fill a large bowl with cold water and squeeze in 1/2 of the lemon

28

Peel the apples, cut into thin slices and put into the bowl with cold lemon water

29

I like to cut the slices rather thin, 1/8-inch or so

30

In a small bowl mix together 1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon, 1 pinch nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

31

Drain the apples in a colander and wipe all water out of the large bowl

32

Put the apples back in the bowl and sprinkle with the cinnamon, nutmeg and flour mixture

33

Mix until they are all covered

34

Take the pie pan out of the refrigerator and put 1/2 on the apples over the bottom pastry layer

35

Squeeze 1/2 of the lemon into the caramelized butter and sugar mixture, mix and pour half of the mixture through a sieve onto the apples

36

Layer the other 1/2 of the apples on top of that and pour on the rest of the caramelized mix

37

The pie should be just slightly over filled, and formed to a dome in the middle

38

Remove the second half of the pastry ball from the refrigerator and roll it out

39

Brush the bottom lip of the pie pastry with water to help form a seal

40

Place the rolled pastry on top of the pie and trim with kitchen scissors

41

Crimp the edges together with your fingers to make a good seal between the top and bottom pastry layers

42

Cut 3 small slits in the top to allow steam to escape

43

Place pie on a cookie sheet and wrap aluminum foil around the pie edges

44

Place the cookie sheet and pie in the center of the oven and allow to cook for 15 minutes

45

Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and cook for an additional 25 minutes

46

Remove the aluminum foil and check the crust to see if it is golden brown

47

You will probably have to continue to cook for another 5 to 10 minutes for the crust to turn golden brown

48

Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to set for 5 minutes

49

Then place a large plate over the top of the pie and flip it over

50

Gently lift the pie pan off of the pie

51

It should come off clean, but if any pecans stick to the pie pan remove them and put them back on the pie

52

Allow to cool at least 1 1/2 hours before cutting