Apple Slab Pie

To prepare the base: Put the flour in a big, wide bowl. Mix the sugar and salt. Add the pieces of butter and cover them with the flour. With the first 3 fingers of each hand, break the butter into small pieces slightly larger than peas. You can also use two knives or a sturdy pastry blender to do this. I like to use my hands.

When the mixture looks mostly the same, a bit crumbly, and the butter is broken into small pieces, add ½ cup of water using a rubber spatula. Mix until the water is absorbed and the dough begins to stick together. If the dough is still dry and crumbly, add more water, little by little, until the dough begins to stick together. Use your hands to mix the dough until it becomes a soft and slightly loose ball. Cut the pie dough into two pieces, one a little bigger than the other. You will need the bigger piece for the bottom part of the crust. Place one portion on a piece of plastic wrap and shape it into a rectangle that is about 1 inch thick. Use the plastic wrap to help the dough stick together, if necessary. Do the same with the rest of the dough. Cool the dough in the fridge for at least 2 hours before using it.

To prepare the filling: In a big bowl, mix the apple pieces with the lemon juice. Combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the sugar and spice mix over the apples and mix well to cover them; then, leave them to the side.

To put together the slab pie: Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a piece of parchment paper at the bottom of a baking sheet that measures 10 by 15 inches and is 1 inch deep. If your pan is a bit smaller than this one (like mine was), don’t worry – this recipe will still turn out well; you’ll just have some extra dough left over.

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