Martha Hopkin's Apple Crumb Pie

This won top prize at the Darlington Apple Festival in Maryland.

CRUST
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup (plus a little extra) shortening

Mix the flour and salt together, cut in the shortening, and add just enough ice water so the dough holds together. Chill. Roll out the crust and put it into a 9-inch pie pan. (The secret to good piecrust is to keep things COLD, so don't handle the dough too much.)

FILLING
6-8 apples, pared and sliced
1 cup sugar
2-3 tablespoons flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
pinch salt
butter

Place the apples in the pie pan. Mix the dry ingredients and sprinkle them evenly over the apples. Scatter four or five pieces of butter over everything.

CRUMBS

1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup butter, softened

Mix the flour and sugar together, and then cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle the crumbs over the apples (there will be a mound). Bake in a 400-degree oven for approximately 50 minutes.

Martha Hopkins