eva’s apple pie

Grandma Eva’s Apple Pie

My grandparents Bert and Eva Haywood had a farm in Benzie County. When I was in 7th grade at Boardman School in Traverse City, I would often walk to the train depot after school on Friday and take the train to Bendon to spend the weekend with them. My grandfather would meet the train, picking up the mailbag for the post office. He would carry a lighted lantern, which was always comforting to me, as it would be dark outside by the time I arrived.

Grandma Eva’s kitchen always smelled like food, especially homemade bread and fresh apple pie. She cooked on an old kitchen woodstove. This is her recipe. – Phyllis Kilcherman

This recipe is featured in the article Kilchermans' Heirloom Apples in Leelanau County Northern Michigan in addition to the October 2013 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan's Magazine.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plus 1/3 cup regular flour 1 cup shortening
  • Dash of salt
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 2 quarts of Duchess of Oldenburg apples
  • 3/4 cup plus sprinkle of sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Dash of cloves
  • 1–2 tablespoons butter, cut into pats Egg wash (1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, lightly beaten)

Directions

Mix the first three ingredients well, reserving the L cup of flour, until mixture looks like peas. Then add the milk. Mix again, and roll out on a floured surface to the size of your pie pan. Divide the mixture into two parts, one for the bottom crust and one for the top. Peel and slice the apples into fairly thick chunks, as it will bake up easily. Place in bottom piecrust. Cover with O cup of sugar and cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Sprinkle with L cup flour and butter. Place top crust. Seal the edges with dampened fingertips. Paint top with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Cut slits in top crust. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes.