Apple pie six-pack!

Your typical apple pie shouldn't be typical at all.

First off, these pies take shape with Jonathan apples produced from the "miracle" tree on my Parent's property. Every person that has ever gazed at it's apple-laden branches in September, will also hear the tree's history from my Father. Planted sometime in the mid 70's alongside various other fruit trees, it was split and fallen by a massive lightening strike some ten years later. The following Spring, like the proverbial phoenix from the flame, it rose to be the modern day Matriarch of the backyard. Every family member, friend of the family, neighbor, neighbor of a family member, or friend of a neighbor that owns a horse, will be handed a bag breaking full of apples during the Fall season!

In preparation for this past Thanksgiving, I found this new pie pan from the Wilton baking line:

Not that you may need a reason to spend money with a Big Box store coupon in your hot little hand, but I quickly imagined my Martha Stewart-esque spread of sampler apple pies with other desserts on the buffet table...  

First, if you can your own apples, a quart should be more than enough for the six mini pies. I used one pint and a half jar of homemade canned apple pie filling. I learned that the six mini pies are roughly equal to the filling of one regular 8" pie. If you do not have homemade canned filling, then proceed to a fresh apple pie recipe.

Since I already had rolled frozen pie crusts from the grocery, I fashioned two circles from one pie crust by cutting the dough from around a 5" bowl turned upside down. By re-rolling the scrap dough with a floured rolling pin, I was able to form the third crust. If you only wish to have single crust pies, you can stop with one pre-made crust. I used the second rolled crust from the package to form 3 top crusts using the same method as the bottom crust. Therefore, using one double roll package resulted in (3) two crust pies, and (3) one crust pies, which the later will be topped in crumble.

Once your crusts are ready, equally spoon in filling, and generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. You can also add a dash of nutmeg. Place the top crusts on, crimp with the business end of a fork or your fingers, and add the vents. Or, make a six pie sampler with my favorite crumble or carmel topping!

I like the simplicity of Dutch apple topping, which is roughly a mixture of 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and about 4 Tb. of cold butter blended thoroughly. Recently, I have added additional ingredients of walnuts, rolled oats, and of course, more cinnamon and nutmeg. If adding these additional ingredients, either add more butter or shortening, so that the topping doesn't dry out in the oven.

The carmel topping is simply 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 4 Tb. warmed butter mixed with a 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract until smooth. With a spoon or pastry brush, evenly spread over the pies with a top crust. Covers two pies.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until cooked throughly. Even though I bake with a convection oven, I rotate the pan once for evenly browned crusts, and cover any "topping" pies with foil if they are browning before the un-topped pies.

Just one step closer to Martha; 'cause here they are!

Enjoy & Cheers!

Dog de-shedding the Horseless way

Right now, we have three dogs. All of them are considered "aged" and living the high life; well, like they should be. After life on a leash in the City, they have their premium breed-specific feed hand delivered to our door. A large backyard, complete with a few choice squirrels that run our trees in their daily trips to the neighbor's bird feeder. Plus, plenty of room to stretch out and snooze...which most likely will happen on the furniture.

Whether it be a horse, dog or cat, we all know that with the advent of Spring, comes the dreaded shedding season. Every morning, I am welcomed by the little tufts of black and tan fur that shows me exactly where my 10 year old German Shepherd slept the night before. As I make my way across the hardwood floor and into the kitchen for coffee, the furry tumble weeds swirl around my feet. I swear the minute the vacuum gets put away for the night, there's a new batch taking shape while we sleep. Granted, the Shepherd fur tufts are the most sightly, and easiest to find. The other two dogs, a German bred Rottweiler with an undercoat, and the short-haired Rottie mix, shed like a Christmas tree-one needle at a time. One year, in frustration, I resorted to grabbing my horse's old shedding blade and mud comb and tried it on the Shepherd's coat. Just like on my horse, large amounts of hair clogged up the teeth as I made just a single pass! Swipe, swipe, swipe, and now on a smaller body, the comb made quick work of it plus, the Shepherd actually enjoyed it!

So, I now introduce the Horseless way of de-shedding!

One side note, even with the German Rottie, I would only use the shedding combs on the thickest part of her coat, which covers her chest and sides. Naturally, where the hair is thinner, the teeth would cause discomfort to the dog. I would NOT recommend this for any dog that does not have a thick undercoat, as the teeth on these combs are much too harsh. I am not a dog groomer, but your judgement and dog's behavior should tell you so. Also, with any other type of coat, such as a wired haired, I can not say, as I never done one.

 

 

             Yes, it's his favorite chair!

         

 

 

 

 

 And the Tools 

From left to right we have:

Mud comb (horse), the Furminator rake, combination pin/soft brush (horse or dog), slicker,

finishing de-shedding spray with mitt

 

 

 

 

Now, clear your calendar because we are about to begin!

Oh ya, we are long overdue for a decent grooming! Normally, I would bathe the dog with an oatmeal shampoo before hand, but with this much loose hair, I would have to call a plumber! I am grooming him in our mud room/laundry room since it was 5 degrees outside. I threw a load of laundry in to up the humidity, and keep down the static cling factor.

Make no small plans...

It was about a year after we bought our nearly 50 acres of Wisconsin farmland that our Daughter, our first, was born. With plans of eventually turning this crop land into our personal horse farm, my first remark to my Husband was, "She's going to have a pony when she turns five."

She's now 4 years old and the land is still in hay.

Even though she has inherited the "horse bug"' (my husband jokingly calls it brain washing on my part!) I ponder if she's really ready, or am I unknowingly wandering down the path of being one of those pushy parents?

Thanks to close outs, she has already collected a lead line saddle, and paddock boots just waiting to be put to use. When I do drag out the saddles and bridles for some oiling, she grabs her saddle also. Seeing her spray a little too much Lexol, then quickly hand rubbing it into the stiff leather like Mommy does, invokes visions of my Daughter happily trotting around the show ring on a fat pony. Her helmeted hair in two darling braids, both ending with huge blue-ribboned bows, bounce around at every post like happy bluebirds. Playing Devil's advocate with myself, I recall a gawking long ago memory of a 40-something blond pony tailed Trainer/Parent.  In all her glory, she's perched heavily over the rail at a schooling show screaming, "MORE LEG!!!" to the perplexed 8 year old girl on the chestnut school horse.

I have given myself until this Summer to decide if she's strong enough physically, and mentally, to start looking for a barn to start lessons at. I mean, at this point, where is the line between a glorified pony ride, and actually learning to ride?

Now, my 2 year old Son, he's going to be a natural...Cheers!