Snow White's Apple Pie

Snow White's Apple Pie

 

Snow White was the prettiest little child and everyone in the kingdom loved her. She spent her days visiting her friends in the village and helping out in the castle. There weren’t that many young children her age so she spent much of her time in the kitchen with the cook Mary.

  

She was a sweet elderly woman who loved Snow White as a daughter. She had been there for her when her mother died, and then sometime later when her father also died. The new Queen, and Snow’s stepmother, was proving to be a fair ruler. Though Mary thought she didn’t spend nearly enough time with her young step daughter. Hearing the small taps of the young princess’s steps Mary smiled.

“Good morning Mary.” Snow said walking into the kitchen. It was her favorite room in the castle if you asked her, though not many did. It was warm and cozy though still grand enough to feed everyone.

“I have a surprise for you my dear.” Mary said leaning down to Snow’s height. She raised her eyebrows in anticipation and smiled her prettiest smile.

“We have enough to make you favorite. Will you be able to help me?” Snow nodded her head vigorously, and then ran to the sink to wash up.

Apples were her favorite fruit and it was always the best days when they were able to make them into a pie.

“First we need to make the crust.” Mary said from the pantry gathering when they would need. Snow White went to grab her stool so she stood level with Mary on the counter. They made enough crust to fill five pie tins. As much as Snow loved eating the pie afterwards, she liked giving the slices to everyone afterward a little better. Plus, she thought to herself, this is the first time she will be able to give a piece to her new mother.

“We need to make this one extra special Mary, it will be the Queens first slice.” Snow said sweetly before going back to crust forming.

Mary looked over at her and smiled, Snow really is the sweetest child she had ever met.

Soon they were to the apples, Mary would cut them and Snow would place them evenly in the pie crust. Rolling the rest of the dough and forming the lattices took practice and Snow was finally getting the hang of it. She looked over at Mary’s, the perfect little strips of crust on top of the apples; she looked back over to hers. The lines weren’t as straight or as neat but she loved hers just as much.

“Alright this is the hard part, step back.” Mary took the hot sweet liquid and poured it over all the pies. Snow watched on, knowing one day she’ll be old enough to make one all by herself.

“Now we wait. Why don’t you run off and play outside for an hour.” Mary said cleaning up. Snow nodded her head and went out the kitchen door that led outside.

She walked about in the garden singing songs and picking flowers, unknowing that someone watched her from the room above.

The Queen narrowed her eyes looking at the young girl outside; her new daughter was sweet and beautiful. It made her teeth clench. She needed to watch her closely…

The smell coming from the kitchen is what led Snow back indoors. “Finished?” she said from the doorway.

Mary smiled, “that nose of yours is never wrong Snow, come on in.” Mary had the pies cooling by the window, but one was set apart. “Would you like to cut it?” Mary asked. Snow said yes and went to stand by Mary; she helped her cut it into eight slices.

“Who would you like to give the first slice to?” Mary asked putting it on a plate.

“I know exactly who.” Snow said taking the plate and walking through the door, “I’ll be right back Mary!”

Snow heading through the castle winding through the expansive hallways to reach her destination, knocking softly on the door she didn’t wait for a response and went in, excited to share her dessert.

She walked into her stepmother’s room and saw her standing by the mirror, for a second it looked like there was a different reflection in the mirror but it quickly changed. Snow shook her head, she must be seeing things.

The Queen turned sharply around and forced a smile. “I didn’t hear you knock child, what do you need.”

“Nothing, I made an apple pie with Mary today and wanted to give you the first piece,” looking expectantly up at her new mother, wanting this to make her smile.

“Thank you.” The Queen said walking over to take the plate from the young girl and setting it on the nearby table. Ready to dismiss her, the Queen suddenly looked back over to the pie.

“Do you like apple pie?” The Queen asked suddenly.

Snow White smiled and nodded her head, “it is my favorite fruit. What’s yours?” she asked.

The Queen turned around and walked back toward the mirror. “Oh mine too my dear, go back to handing out your dessert Snow White.”

Knowing she had been dismissed Snow gave one last glance to the pie slice, hoping the Queen tasted it, before walking out the door and closing it quietly behind her.

“You sure have a way with children My Queen.” A voice said from the mirror.

“Hmph, this whole castle is full of annoyances. But we do have a useful piece of information about the annoyance. Apples…”

**

Snow finished handing out her slices and made her way back to the kitchen. Mary was waiting for her there at the small table in the center of the room. Two slices sitting on the top. Snow looked up at Mary, suddenly very glad she had her, they both sat and ate their pie talking about what they should make tomorrow. 

Recipe

 Ingredients

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.