Norma's Apple Pie

Pie Crust:

2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

4 to 6 tablespoons cold water

Filling:

6 to 8 Granny Smith apples

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon, or more to your taste

2 tablespoons butter

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 400. In a bowl, combine flour, add shortening and cut into until crumbly. Sprinkle with water, 1 tablespoon at at time, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide dough in half. On a floured surface, roll out each portion to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Place one pastry in plate. Set aside. Peel, core and slice apples in a large bowl. Add sugar and cinnamon and toss until all apples are covered. Place in pastry lined pie plate and add diced butter evenly over apples and cover with remaining pastry, folding edge under lower pastry to seal. Flute edges as desired. Make a slit in the middle on top crust. Beat one egg with a teaspoon of water. Brush top of pie with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Place strips of foil over edges to prevent burning. Bake for 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. Remove from oven and cool completely before serving.

* My family loves when I add a jar of caramel topping on the bottom with chopped walnuts before adding the apples.