Grandma's Secret Apple Pie

→ For the Crust

→ For the Filling

→ Finishing Touches

Whisk together flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, mixing until the dough just comes together. Don't overmix! Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. This is my chill-out time too, usually with a cup of tea and a good book. The key is to see little butter pieces still in the dough. It feels a little wrong, but it's so right!

In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugars, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and lemon juice. Toss gently to coat. I always sneak a taste of the apples at this stage, just to make sure they're sweet enough. Quality control, you know? The mixture should look a little rustic, all the spices clinging to the apple slices. It smells so incredibly good right now, like a candle you'd actually want to burn.

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Pour the apple filling into the crust. Don't overfill, I've learned that lesson the hard way! I once had pie filling bubble over and make a sticky, smoky mess on the bottom of my oven. It was a chore to clean up, to be real.

Roll out the remaining dough and either cover the pie completely, crimping the edges to seal, or cut into strips and create a lattice top. I'm a lattice kind of gal, but honestly, do whatever makes you happy! Brush the top with beaten egg and sprinkle with turbinado sugar, if desired. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. The kitchen smells divine at this point! That golden-brown crust is my favorite part.

Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This is the hardest part, waiting for it to cool. But trust me, it's worth it. If you slice it too soon, the filling will run out everywhere. I've had that happen a few times, and while it still tastes good, it's not the prettiest. Warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Pure bliss!

This is where the magic happens. The first bite, the warm filling, the flaky crust... pure heaven. You'll hear that little crackle of the crust and the soft, sweet apples will just melt in your mouth. Share with your loved ones, or savor every slice yourself. You deserve it! And honestly, the best part is seeing the smile on someone's face after they take a bite.