Apple Pie Baking Tips You Need to Know

The first apple pie I made completely from scratch was a disaster (and that's a nice synopsis).   It took FOREVER to make and what did I end up with?-- A pie that was soggy, concave, burnt exterior, under-baked interior and a taste that was assaulted with citrus.  I was upset with the results to say the least (partially because I had wanted a good piece of pie). In addition to being upset, the whole pie making process left me feeling very frustrated (I followed the instructions to the letter, how could this have possibly failed!?!). Below is a picture of the before and after of my first pie making experience.  I am slightly mortified showing you this, but you need to know that a) the story is true and b) why I was so inspired to write this post.

One thing to know about me is that when I fail at something, I don't cry or throw myself a pity party.  Instead, I take a more productive approach- Research, Rinse and Repeat!  Meaning, I study what I did, figure out what went wrong and then try it again until I achieve success.  Yes, my first pie was an epic fail, but I learned a lot from failing.  Below I have compiled a list of tips and resources that have helped me to figure out (and eventually conquer) the art of apple pie making.   

Tips (that I wish I had known for my first pie)  

• If Using Raw Apples~Drain Them!- Once you peel, core and cut your apples, toss the slices in the juice of 1 fresh squeezed lemon and 1/4c of sugar and then place slices in a sieve/colander to drain for an hour and a half.  This Alton Brown Video was eye opening as to why this is technique is so important.  Draining your apples prior to baking will help to minimize the wateriness in your pie. 
• Pack Those Apples Tightly-  As I mentioned, my first pie was concave (i.e. It looked like a deflated balloon).  The reason why this happened was because I haphazardly dumped my apple pie filling into the pie dish and then proceeded to bake.  What I didn't consider was the fact that when apples cook, they shrink in size.  If you don't tightly pack your apple slices into your pie in a somewhat orderly fashion, they will create large air pockets in your pie as they cook down.  Failing to tightly pack your apples will not only cut down on your ratio of apples to crust per bite, but it can also compromise the integrity of your crust because it no longer has the support of the apples to help keep the pie dome shape.  
• 2 Baking Temperatures and Covering Your Crust- Bake the pie at 400 degrees fahrenheit for the first 35 minutes and then turn the heat down to 375 degrees and place a piece of aluminum foil lightly on top of the pie for the remainder of the baking time.  This will keep the exterior crust from burning, while providing the interior crust and pie contents ample time to cook throughout.
• Pie Vents- You may already know that before your pie goes into the oven you need to take a sharp paring knife and cut a few slits into the top crust.  This is done to provide your pie with vents for the steam to escape.  The interesting part about pie vents that I did not know before, is that pie vents can be very helpful for checking the doneness of your pie.  When your pie is done baking, you should be able to stick a knife through every vent on your pie and down through all of the apple layers without any resistance.  If you experience any resistance, then your pie isn't done baking.  In addition, pie juices will start to escape through the vents when the pie is done baking (not always, but often).  
• Egg Wash and Granulated Sugar- Before your pie goes in the oven, brush all exposed crust with an egg wash and then lightly sprinkle granulated sugar over the top of the egg washed crust.  This will help you to achieve that golden brown crust with the added touch of sweet crunch from the slightly caramelized granulated sugar. 

Flaky Golden Crust and a Perfectly Cooked Apple Filling.  Served ala mode of course and garnished with a Cinnamon Sugared Simple & Crisp Apple Crisp.  

As you can see from the picture I have shared directly above, even pie stories can have happy endings.  Although it was rough, I am really appreciative of that first pie experience.  

Valentine's Day Cocktail Party for Two - Dessert & Champagne Bar

Part two of this Valentine's Cocktail Party for Two might be the most essential part of this evening-- Dessert and Champagne!  I didn't want to go wild with the food and have my husband rolling out of the room at the end of the night, but there was no way that I was going to host a romantic Valentine's evening without a few chocolates and glasses of bubbly.  

I also want to point out that this evening works really well if you are single and want to host a Valentine's themed party for a group of your single friends.  The only adjustments I would make would be to add more cheese, appetizer plates and champagne (depending on your total number of guests).  This day is about being with those closest to you and having fun, so if that means friends, great!  

Desserts:

If there is one thing my husband LOVES, it's a "sweet treat" or two.  Still worried about overloading my husband with food, I wanted to have a modest dessert selection.  I decided to select little bites that kept in line with the Valentine's/Romantic theme and didn't require a ton of prep work.  The results were both delicious and festive. 

Champagne Bar:

I love serving champagne with all of the "fixings."  There is something about the ability to customize your own glass of champagne that really makes it unique, festive and extra delicious.  For this spread, I included  blackberries, raspberries and fresh red currants.  Other tasty additions could be pomegranate seeds and champagne cocktail ingredients (sugar cube + bitters).  

Table Decor & Other Accessories:

The concept I wanted to stick with when designing this table was simple, chic, festive and functional.  I kept the color scheme to red, gold, black and white, and brought over only one piece of patterned tableware from the cocktail table (my Scalamandre Cocktail Napkins).  This way I could create both a cohesive and romantic aesthetic without going overboard on the decor.   

As is my goal with every post, I want you to feel both inspired and empowered to recreate these concepts I'm sharing in your own home.  Whether you choose to have a romantic cheesescape for two or a Valentine's Dessert & Champagne party with your friends, I hope this post has given you a new perspective on how to celebrate this holiday.  

Valentine's Day Cocktail Party for Two

Valentine's Day is less than a week away and like previous years, I was having trouble thinking of what to do for my husband.  I have heard people say that this is a holiday for women, but that just seems like a poor excuse to get out of having to do something for your significant other to show them how much they mean to you.  Yes,  you should show your love and appreciation for your partner every day, but its nice to have this holiday to really go all out with a nice and romantic gesture.  

Brainstorming what to do for my husband….well immediately I knew what I didn't want to do--anything super traditional.  I am not a big fan of overloading on the hearts/cupid decor.  I can understand a touch of hearts decor, but after this holiday is over, when else are you going to be able to use this stuff?  The answer…next valentines day.  I just cannot justify spending that kind of money on stuff you are only going to use one day out of the year (Christmas Decor is up for an entire month in my house so don't even try to argue that one with me). 

What did I come up with?  I came across these Scalamandre Placemats by Caspari while perusing Amazon.com and was immediately hooked!  My valentines idea suddenly became clear, I was going to make a romantic cocktail hour for my husband (with a mini cheesescape of course) and then round out the evening with a  dessert and champagne bar (*I will be sharing those details on Wednesday).

Table Decor:

• Votives- I used my Tiffany & Co. Crystal Rock Cut Votives, which I have talked about in my article on Coffee Table Candles.  Other great votive suggestions for this coffee tablescape would be: 
  • CB2's Hatch Candle Holder, CB2's Frosted Glass Candle Holder, West Elm's Mercury Tea Light Holders 
• Flowers- I kept this aspect of the table very traditional with deep red roses.  
  • For the large rose bowl, I used slightly over a dozen roses.  If you don't have a rose bowl, I highly recommend getting one.  I am not an expert at flower arranging, but having this rose bowl has made this arrangement look professional.  Additional bonus- you can buy rose bowls very inexpensively like this rose bowl available at Amazon.com.  
  • For the bud vases, I used CB2's Ai Bud Vases and suggest filling them with either African Roses or Spray Roses.  

Table Setting:

• Placemats- Scalamandre by Caspari (Set of 4)
• Napkins- CB2 Restaurant Dinner Napkins (Set of 4)
• Napkin Rings- I had purchased my horn napkin rings from Williams Sonoma on sale.  They no longer carry the napkin rings, but here are a few similar options:
  • Pottery Barn Horn Napkin Rings (Set of 4), Simon Pearce Polished Horn Napkin Ring, Kenneth Cole Reaction Home Horn Napkin Ring
• Coasters- I used my Brass Chilewich Dahlia Coasters. 
• Stemware- Pictured are my William Yeoward Fanny Champagne Flutes.  A few additional champagne flute options would be:
  • Riedel Vinum Champagne Glass (Set of 2), Lenox Marchesa Imperial Caviar Gold Champagne Flutes (Set of 2), Williams-Sonoma Somerset Champagne Flute (Set of 4), CB2 Cheval Clear Flute
• Cheese Board- I used the Godinger Plume Cheese Board with Server
• Cheese Knives- The Godinger Plume Cheese Board does come with a cheese knife, however I opted for a set of 2 silver cheese knives.  Here are a few different options if you are looking to grow your cheese knife collection:
  • Jean DuBost Laguiole 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set- Stainless Steel, Sur La Table Hotel Cheese Knives (Set of 4), Michael Aram New Molten Cheese Knife Set
• Small Serving Bowls- The crystal bowls pictured below are actually antiques that I inherited, but here are a few small bowl alternatives:
  • Julia Knight Peony Round Bowl 6", Libbey Crisa Tempo Square Bowl (Set of 12), Sur La Table The Cambridge Collection Footed Serving Bowls

Food & Drink:

• For the Cheeseboard:
  • Camembert Heart Cheese- The only heart on this table!  I was perusing the cheese section at Whole Foods and came across this Camembert Heart from the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company.  I couldn't resist!  Pictured above I have garnished it with fresh julienned sage, because I felt it needed a little color for presentation purposes.  I've actually noticed a fair number of grocery stores carrying heart shaped cheeses right now, like Trader Joe's.  Even if you can't find a heart shaped cheese, there are still so many great cheese options available for your Valentine's Cheesescape.  
  • Cypress Grove Midnight Moon- This is a personal favorite of mine.  I cannot get enough of it and it's definitely a cheese that you will see time and again in my cheesescape photos.  Why do I love it so much?  This gouda has delicious nutty and brown butter notes, pairs beautifully with a variety of preserves/ chutneys and always seems to be a crowd favorite (especially for my husband and myself).  
  • Chutney- I went with a personal favorite of both mine and my husband (since we are going to be the ones eating it), Virginia Chutney Company's Hot Peach Chutney.  I love the combination of sweet and heat, plus it pairs beautifully with the Midnight Moon.  
  • Fresh Red Currants- I am totally in LOVE with currants at the moment.  Not a common choice, but their tart/slightly sweet taste is fantastic.  They pair beautifully with a  variety of cheeses and are a great addition to your glass of bubbly (as you will see in Wednesday's Post).  It is towards the end of their peak season, but I am still able to find them in some local grocery stores.

• Cheese Accompaniments:
  • Whole Grain 34 Degree Crisps- Available in a number of grocery stores, specialty food stores and online. 
  • Dried Pear Simple & Crisp-Available in specialty food shops, Whole Foods and Online. 
  • Sea Salt and Rosemary Crostini- Available at Whole Foods.  
  • Tart Dried Cherries- Available at most grocery stores and online at Amazon.com
• Nut Dish:
  • Spicy Cayenne Chickpeas by 2 Armadillos Co.
  • Trader Joe's Sweet and Spicy Pecans
  • Trader Joe's Rosemary and Seasalt Marcona Almonds 
  • **For additional nut ideas, check out my post on Cocktail Party Preparedness: Food & Beverage
• Champagne and Sparkling Wine Suggestions:  
  • I think champagne or sparkling wine is the perfect Valentine's cocktail.  Enjoying a bottle of bubbly with your significant other seems pretty romantic to me!  The type of champagne/sparkling wine and price point are totally up to you.  If you are looking for suggestions, I would recommend: Domaine Carneros by Tattinger, Moet & Chandon Champagne, Chandon or Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut.

While this is only Part One of my two part Valentine's series, I hope that this concept has inspired you to possibly think beyond the typical Valentine's Day fare.  There are so many romantic gestures and home accessories that you can do/use to make Valentine's Day special, thoughtful and romantic for your significant other.  Stay tuned for Part Two of my Valentine's Series on Wednesday, where I show you how to round out this cocktail party with a very sweet ending.  

Blood Orange & Cranberry Cocktail

Lately I have been getting a little tired of my go-to Kettle Greyhound (Vodka & Grapefruit Juice on ice).  It is a great cocktail- very refreshing, most restaurants/bars can make it for you and most importantly (for me) its not too sweet.  I am not a fan of super sweet cocktails primarily because the combination of alcohol and sugar tends to bring on a nasty headache in the morning.

Clearly I have digressed a little, but my point being that I have come up with a new cocktail recipe that is delicious, perfect for winter when  citrus is in abundance and most importantly, not too sweet!  Who doesn't love a good cocktail recipe?  Here is the recipe for making this delicious libation:

Ingredients:                                                                            (Serves 4) 

• 12 oz. Blood Orange Juice **Blood Orange Juice is definitely less expensive in grocery stores, but if you can't find it locally, here is a link for buying it online.  
• 4oz Premium Cranberry Juice (I like R.W. Knudsen Just Cranberry)
• 12 oz. Club Soda or Seltzer Water (Perrier is a great option)
• 1 Lemon (I suggest Meyer Lemons- they tend to be juicier)
• 8-12 oz. Citron/Citroen Vodka (Absolut or Ketel One would be my preference for this recipe)
• 2 oz. Cointreau (Orange Liqueur)
• Ice (*Tip-Blood Orange Flavored Ice Cubes are a great addition to this cocktail)
• Blood Orange Slices (Frozen) or Fresh Cranberries (Skewered and Frozen) or Simple & Crisp - Dried Blood Orange Crisps

Instructions:

1. In a large pitcher combine- Blood Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, Vodka, Cointreau, Club Soda and the Juice of 1 Meyer Lemon
2. Stir Contents and pour over ice
3. Garnish with either frozen blood orange slices, frozen cranberry skewers or Simple & Crisp Dried Blood Orange Crisps

(*Note- I also like to add extra frozen blood orange slices to my pitcher to keep the beverages extra cold without diluting the flavor)

Pitchers to Consider:  Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Glass Pitcher, CB2 Double Edge Pitcher, Anthropologie Hobnail Pitcher, Crate & Barrel Cha-Cha Pitcher, Towle Serveware Hammersmith Pitcher

Double Old Fashioned Glasses to Consider: Williams-Sonoma Dorset Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Sur La Table Gold Rim DOF Glasses (Set of 4), CB2 Single Edge Double Old Fashioned, Scalamandre by Lenox Zebra Double Old Fashioned Glass (Set of 2), Villeroy & Boch Octavie Double Old Fashioned Glass