Baking for Fall

Fall is the time for delicious pie. Apple and pumpkin pie are the most popular desserts for fall. Here are recipes for both. Enjoy!

Apple Pie:

Prep: 30 minutes
Total time: 3 hours
Servings: 8

Crust
-1box refrigerated Pillsbury Pie Crust

Filling
-6 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples
-¾ cup sugar
-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
-¼ teaspoon salt
-⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
-1 tablespoon lemon juice

Steps:
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Place 1 pie crust in an ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom.
2. In a large bowl, gently mix the filling ingredients; spoon into a crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust. Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge, pressing edges together to seal; flute. Cut slits or shapes in several places in the top crust.
3. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the apples are tender and the crust is golden brown. Cover the edge of the crust with 2- to 3-inch wide strips of foil after the first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool on the cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.

Pumpkin Pie:

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 55 mins
Total:1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
-1 can pumpkin
-1 can sweetened condensed milk
-2 large eggs large eggs
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-½ teaspoon ground ginger
-½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
-½ teaspoon salt
-1 pie crust
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour into the crust. Bake for 15 minutes.
2. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted 1 inch from the crust comes out clean. Cool. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator.

These pies are perfect for a Thanksgiving dinner or a rainy day activity. The smell the pies create smells like fall in a dessert. The cinnamon and spices in the pies are as strong as a burning candle. You can imagine the leaves falling, the pumpkin patch, and making a leaf pile to jump into with that smell! I hope you enjoy making these recipes and have a very happy holiday!