Nutrition & Good Eating

We own a vacation home in apple country, upstate New York.  We pass many apple orchards on the way to our home which has inspired me over the years to include apples in many recipes that I have experimented with. However, no matter how great I am at experimenting with apples, among family and friends everyone's favorite apple recipe is always apple pie.  For many years I prepared my own pie crust using my mother's recipe.  In recent years, however, looking for simplicity, I have started using the frozen pie crusts that are sold in most supermarkets.  I have found that they work very well and unless you choose to tell someone that you are using frozen pie crusts, people generally will not notice the difference.
 
INGREDIENTS:
 
Prepared frozen pie crust or prepare your favorite pie crust recipe
6 - 8 apples (depending on size)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon orange zest   
 
If you are using frozen pie crusts, allow the two pie crusts (bottom and top) to defrost.  Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Place bottom pie crust into a 9 inch pie pan (I prefer glass pans).  Press down the sides of the crust against the pan.
 
Peel the apples and cut into thin slices.  In a separate bowl mix the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together.  Add apples and coat thoroughly with the dry ingredients.  Place the apples mixed with the dry ingredients into the bottom pie crust.  Sprinkle the orange zest over the top of the apples.  Cover the apples with the top pie crust.  Seal the edges of both pie crusts together.   Cut slits in a few places in the top crust.
 
Bake in heated oven for approximately 45 minutes or until the apples are softened and the crust turns brown.  Serve with cheese or ice cream for a delicious dessert.