Green Chile Apple Pie

As we start the beginning of a new month and what seems to be the busiest time of year I am thankful I have friends who I can count on to help when needed. I am getting back to whatever is my normal self and I use that term loosely. Not breaking any speed records or running any races but healing from my knee replacement.

My guest columnist this week is a dear young woman who I became acquainted with when she came to work for me…geeze seems like an eternity ago, but about 6 years ago, Tabitha has become like another child of mine. There are a few of those out there, I can’t take credit for her… but holds a special a place in my heart. Since she has come into my life she was a student, wife has become a mother of 2 and now a business owner. http://rooseveltbrewing.com/. This is by far mine and the hubs favorite place to eat in Portales. If you have not tried it you must put it on your to do list, you won’t be disappointed.

Enough rambling, on to the good stuff.

In my family we never used to worry about what we put in our bodies. Almost two years ago I decided to make a bold move and become vegetarian. I tell others “being a vegetarian is a lot easier than it sounds” who ask me if its a difficult transition. Now, I know a pie isn’t a proper diet to “stay healthy” but if you can incorporate better quality ingredients, such as organic or all natural, the sweetness with a hint of spice is completely worth it! When anyone first hears “Green Chile Apple Pie” you immediately raise an eyebrow because you aren’t exactly sure if the odd ingredients mixed in this pie will go well together, but once you try it, pure bliss! My challenge for you (the reader) try it! Bake it and let me know what you think! You can’t knock it until you try it, right?

Here is my step by step on how I make Green Chile Apple Pie

First: I make my own Pie Crust, it seems to some it would be tedious and you could just go out and buy a pie crust, but this recipe is simple!

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups of Flour (I used unbleached flour)

whole stick of butter (8 tablespoons, of unsalted butter)

a pinch of salt (Sea salt or Kosher salt will work)

a drinking cup full of ice water
(Side note: if you have a food processor, this is handy when making pie crust)

Place all ingredients in food processor, on low, slowly pour in little bits of ice water until it looks like chick peas. Keep mixing on low until it balls up. Take dough out of food processor and create another for the strips to place on top of the apple pie. Once complete, lay on floured surfaced and roll dough flat, place in pie crust dish.

Now on to the Apple Pie Ingredients:

3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (some for sprinkling the top of the pie)
Freshly ground nutmeg, add to taste preference
7 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced (I buy organic granny smith apples)
1 lemon, zested and juiced
3 tablespoons butter, diced
Green Chile (I buy Authentic New Mexican Hot Green Chile)
Egg wash, for brushing

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 375
Mix together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl.

In another bowl, sprinkle diced apples with the juice from the fresh lemon and zest on the apples and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples. Add (your preference) Green Chile in the mixture (I added 3 tablespoons of Hot Green Chile in my pie)

Pour the apple and sugar mixture in the pie crust pan and add a few cubes of butter (or coconut oil, but very little of oil if you choose to do so)

Use a pastry cutter or butter knife if you don’t have a pastry cutter to cut strips from the other ball of dough you have. Transfer the strips on top of pie and weave strips to make a fun design.
Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over it, trim the edges of excess dough off.