How do you like them Apples?

As I attend Buffini events, the most common question I get from people is what is my favorite pop-by gift idea.  For Fall, I love to give baskets of apples.  I buy simple apple baskets from the dollar store and fill them with 5-7 apples.  A great thing to include with the basket is an apple recipe, a list of U-pick apple orchards, or an apple slicer.  We live close to the many orchards in Apple Hill located in Camino, CA, so we pick the apples for my clients each year with our daughters.  I also include a picture of my girls picking the apples.

TAGLINE: “No matter how you ‘slice’ it,
you and your referrals are the ‘core’ of my business.”

Here is a great apple pie recipe to go along with the basket. 

Rustic Apple Pie
This double-crusted pie is made in a springform pan,
making it more like a mile high apple pie… a great showpiece dessert!!!
Ingredients

Crust:
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3⁄4 cup vegetable shortening
6 to 7 tablespoons ice water
Instructions

Filling:
4 pounds tart apples (such as Granny Smith),
peeled, cored and sliced
½ cup all-purpose flour
1½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Cinnamon-sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375F.
2. To prepare the crust, mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add ice water 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir gently and gather into two balls, one abouttwice as large as the other.
3. Roll out larger ball on a lightly floured surface until it is large enough to cover the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan, with about 2 inches of overhang. Roll the smaller dough ball into a 9-inch circle.
4. To prepare the filling, combine apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt; toss well. Spoon into prepared crust. Sprinkle pieces of butter on top. Place top crust over filling. Fold overhang evenly around the top crust. Cut 10 to 12 slits in top crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar if desired. Bake about 1 hour or until crust is deep golden and the filling oozes through the slits. Serves 12.

And remember, I am never to busy for your Sacramento area real estate referrals. www.peggyurieff.com