Fried Apple Pies



INGREDIENTS:

2 tb butter

2 lb Apples; core, dice

1/2 ts Ground cinnamon

1 pn Nutmeg

1/4 c  sugar

1/4 c  Light brown sugar

1 1/2 c  Water

1/2 Lemon; juice of

1 ts vanilla

1 tb Cornstarch

3 c  Flour

2 ts sugar

1 1/2 ts salt

1/4 ts baking powder

6 tb Lard or solid vegetable, shortening

1 Egg

3/4 c  milk

Powdered sugar in shaker

2 Scoops vanilla bean ice, cream

Fresh sprigs of mint

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the fryer. In a sauce pan, melt the butter. Add
the apples and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon,
nutmeg, 1/4 cup sugar, and brown sugar. Continue sauting
for 1 minute, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar.
Add the water and lemon juice. Bring the liquid up to a boil.
Add cornstarch dissolved in 1 tb water. Whisk the vanilla
and slurry into the liquid. Reduce the heat to a simmer and
cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the apples are soft. Remove
from the heat and cool completely. In a mixing bowl, sift the
flour, sugar, salt and baking powder, together. Cut in the
lard until it resembles coarse meal. In small bowl, whisk the
egg and milk together. Gradually add the egg mixture to the
flour mixture, working it to make a thick dough. Break the
dough into 12 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface,
roll the dough pieces into thin rounds, about 5" in diameter.
Put 1/4 cup of the mixture in the center of each round, fold
over and crimp the edges with a fork. Fry the pies, two to
three at a time, in the hot oil, until golden brown. Remove
from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate. Powder the pies
with powdered sugar. Lay the pies on a platter and serve with  
vanilla bean ice cream. Garnish with drizzle of  caramel sauce,
powdered sugar, and fresh mint.



Fried Apple Pies