Apple Praline Pie

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup brown sugar packed
• 3 tablespoons butter 
• 0.3 cup flour all-purpose
• 2.7 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 2 tablespoons half and half 
• 1 cup pecans chopped
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup shortening 
• 8 cups baking apples are apples that have a sweet-tart balance and hold their shape when peeled thinly sliced (7 medium)
• 7 tablespoons water cold

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven
• blender
• plastic wrap
• aluminum foil
• rolling pin

Directions

1. In medium bowl, mix 2 2/3 cups flour and 1 teaspoon salt.
2. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until particles are size of small peas.
3. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).
4. Gather pastry into a ball. Divide in half; shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. This allows the shortening to become slightly firm, which helps make the baked pastry more flaky. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften slightly before rolling.
5. Heat oven to 425F. With floured rolling pin, roll one pastry round into round 2 inches larger than upside-down 10-inch glass pie plate. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side.
6. In large bowl, mix granulated sugar, 2/3 cup of the pecans, 1/3 cup flour, the cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
7. Add apples; toss to coat. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate.
8. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over apples. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1/2 inch from rim of pie plate.
9. Roll other round of pastry into 11-inch round. Fold into fourths and cut slits so steam can escape. Unfold pastry over filling; trim overhanging edge 1 inch from rim of plate. Fold and roll top edge under lower edge, pressing on rim to seal; flute as desired. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning.
10. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust, removing foil for last 15 minutes of baking.
11. In 1-quart saucepan, place brown sugar, remaining 1/3 cup pecans and the half-and-half. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted.
12. Spread over hot pie.
13. Serve warm.