FoodThoughtsOfaChefWannabe: Sour Cream Apple Pie Deluxe!

This blog is special to me, because the woman who I got this recipe from, is special to me. You know, you always hear skeptical people who aren't familiar with the Internet say things like, "You can't trust anyone you meet", or other equally as ridiculous statements. I understand the fear of something you don't know, but I have time and time again learned, this could not be more untrue.

Shortly after I started "FoodThoughtsOfaChefWannabe", I met M.j. She was kind, she was helpful, and immediately, I knew she was a great woman. I have always had a good nose for good people. (so to speak). We had a few long email conversations, about life, about family and about food. She always has golden words of wisdom, and she is the most positive person I have ever "met". Yes, I don't care that we have never met each other face to face, we have "met" on a far more important level than being in the same room. I would guess we HAVE actually chatted over coffee a time or two, emailing back and forth with a hot cuppa joe beside our keyboards! Although one day I know, we WILL get to meet face to face! She has been adopted as my "foodie mom".

M.j is the author of the blog, I Like To Bake and Cook. In her "about" section you will be greeted with this "Hello! I am a modern Grammy who likes to bake and cook for everyone" I love it! She is so endearing with her stories of her family. She says she never learned to cook from anyone in particular, and she didn't really teach her children to cook. She does get regular phone calls on how to prepare certain dishes, and her son is working hard on mastering her braciole! Both of her children spend time in the kitchen, one cooking and one who prefers baking! I think it is so awesome how our children are influenced as adults by what they saw us prepare, or what we fed them as children! M,j.'s family does have one dish they can't be without at Thanksgiving, it is Cappalletti's! She has made 1200 at once, but is going to need to gather some strength and manpower to beat her own mothers record of 2000! Speaking of which, M.j, is a devoted daughter who spends as much time as possible with her mother. She has told me stories and shared her visits, and I love hearing of their lives and their relationship. She also has 5 grandchildren she can't get enough of. They have all helped her cook in her kitchen and enjoy her food. Nothing compares to good food, made with experienced hands and a loving heart! You will read about all of these important people including her beloved, Mr. Vitelli, who is the love of her life!

Recently, M.j,with the help of her grandchildren, realized her dream of writing a cookbook! She so generously sent the cookbook before I could purchase it and I immediately started deciding what to cook first! You won't believe how amazing these recipes all sound! It warmed me from the inside out to read recipes, I knew had been handed down, nourished families, and were eaten together at the dinner table over conversations about life, school, boys, girls, etc. When I got to the Sour Cream Apple Pie Deluxe recipe, I knew it was THE ONE I had to make!

If you are interested in purchasing one of M.j.'s cookbooks, you can click on here. She is running a Christmas special! Get yours now! At the very least join her over at her blog and/or on Facebook.

This recipe is originally made on a cookie sheet, however I did it in a deep dish pie pan. I used my own homemade dough recipe but feel free to purchase it already made. This is almost like a cheesecake. It is creamy, with sweet bites of apple, and a crumb topping you will keep picking at until there is none left on the pie. Wait. I said that almost as if it happened to me. Ok, it COULD have happened to me, but I mustered some self control. In fact, I think I spent all the self control I had been saving up!

Sour Cream Apple Pie Deluxe

(minor adjustments made since I did it in a pie pan)

Pie Crust (homemade or bought, just one crust)

Filling:

3/4 cup sugar

2 T flour

1/8 tsp salt

1 pint (2 cups) sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups apples, peeled and finely chopped

1 well beaten egg

Crumb Topping (don't put it on the pie until it says so)

2/3 cup flour

2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup butter softened

Combine ingredients (can use a pastry cutter or fork and set aside)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray pie pan with cooking spray. I always do as a precaution. Lay pie crust into the plate as you would any other pie. Fold excess under at the top edge. Mix all other ingredients together. Pour into pie shell and bake for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350 and bake 30 minutes longer. Remove from oven and top with crumb topping and bake at 350 another 15 minutes. Upon taking it out of the oven, put immediately into the refrigerator until cold!

This pie is an official Simmerman staple now. I hope you try it, and I hope you love it as much as we did! Make sure to get your cookbook for more where it came from!

Your "blessed with special friends" chefwannabe