Tart -N- Toffee Apple Pie

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch)  pastry for double-crust pie
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 dash salt
• 6 cups thinly sliced tart apples, peeled (about 6 medium)
• 1 cup , candy bits
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg, mixed with 1 tsp water, beaten
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• cheddar cheese slice (optional)
• whipping cream (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 425.

2. 2

   Line pie plate with half of pastry, trim evenly around edges; set aside.

3. 3

   In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; add apples and toss to coat.

4. 4

   Add toffee bits and stir lightly again; pour into crust.

5. 5

   Dot with butter bits.

6. 6

   Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie.

7. 7

   Make decorative cut-outs; place top over filling; trim, seal and flute edges; top with cut-outs; brush with egg-water and sprinkle with sugar.

8. 8

   Cover edges of crust loosely with strips of foil (prevents burning).

9. 9

   Bake for 30 minutes; remove foil, bake 5-15 minutes longer (golden brown, filling is bubbly through the cut-outs).

10. 10

    Cool on wire rack; store in fridge.

11. 11

    Serving suggestions from The Dairy State: serve with thin slices of Cheddar cheese!

12. 12

    Or whipping cream -- .