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9-inch pie pan …. Bake at 375 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes PIE CRUST: (This will make enough dough for two pie crusts.) 2 cups flour, sifted before measuring Add salt to flour and mix well so that the salt is nicely incorporated into the flour. Add the butter to the flour and blend with either a pastry blender or two table knives held together with a rubber band using a slicing motion until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle water over the surface of the flour and butter mixture and then gently blend with a fork until the mixture begins to hold together. At this point the dough should be dry enough to handle. WARNING: Do not over work the dough at this point or it will become tough and you will lose the desired flaky quality of pie dough. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into flattened disks, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. Remove one packet of the chilled dough (Reserve the other packet of dough for another pie.) and place between two sheets of plastic wrap and begin to flatten with a rolling pin pressing lightly at first to get a smooth surface. Then rolling from the center out to the edges flatten the dough to a round that will be at least one inch larger than the size of the pan that you will be using. Remove the top layer of the plastic wrap and carefully lift the circle of pie dough onto the pan. Remove the remaining plastic wrap and press the dough so that it fits comfortably into the pan. CRUMB TOPPING: Combine all ingredients and then using a pastry blender work the mixture until it resembles a coarse meal. APPLE PIE FILLING: Combine together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg and then add to the sliced apples mixing well to coat all the apples. Pour apples into the pastry lined pie pan. Carefully spoon the crumb topping mixture over the apples and pat crumbs light to keep the mixture from falling off the pie. NOTE: For extra flavor and interest to an apple pie add a handful or two of fresh cranberries if in season, but dried cranberries will do just as well.
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