Estimated Time:
2 hours

Materials:
One recipe for pie crust(s)
(double/2 crust version)

6 c. sliced apples

2 Tbsp. Tapioca granules*

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

(1 Tbsp. butter)

Description:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine tapioca, sugar, spices, and lemon juice. Stir this mixture into the apple slices; let the mixture stand 15 minutes.

Fill the pastry-lined pie plate with fruit mixture; dot with bits o' butter. Cover filling w/top crust; seal
'round the edge (tucking the Top crust edges under the bottom crust edges) 'fluting' the edge, or pressing w/tines of a fork. Cut several slits in the top of the pie crust to allow steam to escape. Bake one hour, or until the pie bubbles, and the juices are thickening a bit.

Other comments or suggestions:
* If you don't have tapioca, you can substitute 2-3 Tbsp. of flour, or 1 Tbsp. of cornstarch. I like tapioca, 'cuz it is fairly reliable in thickening even the 'juiciest' pie fillings.

Likewise, lack of lemon juice won't ruin your pie. Try to work quickly, though; the lemon juice slows down discoloration that apple slices are susceptible to.

Brushing the inside crust w/egg White, before adding filling, is supposed to help prevent sogginess in the bottom crust. It works OK when I remember to do it...but pie seems to disappear even if I forget ;-)
Baking the pie on the Bottom rack (not top, and not center) also helps.

'Star Quality': use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut stars from scraps of pastry. Arrange these 'artistically' on top of the pice crust (I like to use 'em to hide 'boo-boos' in my imperfect top crust ;-)

If the edge of your pie is browning a little too fast, aluminum foil saves the day: cut a Circle from the center of a sheet of foil (so the middle of the pie can continue to brown) and lightly crimp the 'crust protector' around the edge of the pie crust.

For a sugared crust, brush the pie with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar.

A bowl of Fresh Apples on the table makes a beautiful and Easy centerpiece. You might also 'core' a couple of apples, and use them as 'candlesticks' ;-)

The "Family Recipes" page has a Pie Crust recipe, and also an Apple chart, in the "desserts" section. The number of varieties of apple available to us today is simply amazing!