Food: Steal-a-Boyfriend Apple Pie

Please welcome my first "guest editor" to the blog: my good friend since freshman year of college, Mary Jensen. Her apple pie is infamous for the time she - - almost - - stole a boyfriend from me after a single bite. She was kind, and let me keep him. And even kinder to share the recipe!

Here, in her own words, is "Steal-a-Boyfriend Apple Pie."

Apple pie is best when you keep it simple - homemade crust, fresh apples and a high quality cinnamon. Keep in mind that apples are the star so it is important to chose the right apple. My favorite apples to use are Ida Reds, Paula Reds or Jonathan apples. If these varieties are unavailable I fall back on the old stand by Macintosh. If you like a tarter pie Cortland or Granny Smith (I find Grannies make a runny pie) might appeal to you but stay away from any of the Delicious varieties or Gala apples.

This pie features a strusel or crumble topping which I think makes it an easier recipe for a novice pie maker to master.

1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
6 apples or 6 cups of apples, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt

Toss together the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. You want all the dry ingredients to mix with the apple juices to form a sort of syrup coating the apples. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.

Topping:

1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter (cold is better)

Mix these ingredients with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Cover top of the apples with this mixture. Bake the pie at 450 degrees for 10 minutes then lower temp to 350 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes.