Classic Apple Pie, Walnut Lentil Loaf, and Apple-Sweet Potato Side

 I never seem to get  Holiday dishes published for you in time...  This year at least I've got them out so you can make them for Christmas...

Rustic Old-Fashioned Apple Pie
I hadn't made an apple pie in decades!  And never on this deep dish.  It's about time -- right?  I love this recipe for several reasons, not the least of which is you don't have to peel all those apples!

2 crusts – make your own or use pre-made, pre-rolled from a package
8 cups thinly-sliced, unpeeled apples (6 to 8 depending on size and how thin you slice
          I used 2 each of 4 different varieties of apple
⅓ cup AP flour
⅓ cup Sugar
1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Cinnamon
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Nutmeg
½ tsp Ginger
½ tsp Allspice
1 Egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 425F.  In a large bowl, toss together the sliced apples, flour, sugar and spices until everything is well coated.  I mixed all the spices together with the sugar and flour before adding it to the bowl.

Roll out one crust to 11-12' diameter, fit your 9" deep-dish baking dish, leave it overhanging to crimp with the top.  Fill with the tossed apples.  You want a nice big mound well above the top of the crust.   Now roll out the second crust, drape it over the top and crimp with the bottom crust all around the edge.  

Use a knife to cut some slits in the top to let the steam escape.   Brush the entire top with beaten egg, then sprinkle with a bit more sugar just because you can...

Bake at 425F for 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375F and bake 45-50 minutes more.  Cool for an hour before serving to allow the filling to set properly.

A la Mode -- my favorite way to serve hot apple pie!

Walnut Lentil Loaf
This is Sally's "instead of turkey" Holiday main dish.  Very flavor-full any time of year actually. You don't miss meat in this noMeatloaf!! Try adding 1/3 cup of salsa to the mixture as well as the top for added flavor. The loaf slices much nicer (for sandwiches) when cooled completely.

1-1/2 cup Walnuts
1 cup dry Lentils
2 cups Veggie Broth, or water plus herbs like my Scarborough Fayre blend
2 cups diced Sweet Onion
1 cup diced Celery
1/2 cup diced Carrot
3 cloves Garlic
1 packet Taco Seasoning mix
Black Pepper to taste
1-1/4 cup Breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Salsa for the topping
1 Egg, or a “flax egg” for vegans – 1 tbsp flax meal in 2 tbsp water

Pulse the walnuts into coarse meal using a food processor. You can also make the meal 'old school' style with a mortar and pestle. Reserve.

Cook the lentils al dente, in the broth. Reserve, mashing 'some' of the lentils to help bind things.

Saute the mirepoix – the onion, celery and carrot – and garlic until tender. Add the cooked lentils and spices and toss together. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add breadcrumbs and walnut meal, and combine thoroughly using your Mark I mixer (hands).Add more breadcrumbs if the mixture is too wet.

Press the mixture into a sprayed or parchment-lined 5x9 loaf pan. Smooth the top and spread the salsa overall.

Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes until the top is browned and the edges are starting to dry. Rest at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Apples & Sweet Potatoes
N0t sure where I got this, but I've been making it for years.    Apples, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, orange -- what's not to like?

4-6 Yams, peeled and cubed or sliced
Apples – peeled, cored, sliced into rings
1/4 cup OJ concentrate, thawed and thinned with 2 Tbsp water
1 thumb fresh Ginger, minced
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cardamon seeds

You want enough slices/rings to make two layers of each in your casserole dish.  Now in a small bowl, mix together:

¼ cup Brown Sugar
1-2 tsp Cinnamon
1-2 tsp ground Ginger

Preheat oven to 350F.

Microwave the sweet potatoes a few minutes until tender but firm and let them cool.   Grease the casserole dish. Lay down a layer of sweet potato and top with some sugar mixture and some grated ginger.  Add a layer of apples and more sugar mix & ginger.  Repeat layers until you run out of apples or sweet potatoes.  Pour the OJ over and top with the last of the sugar/spice mix. Bake 30 mins, and serve.

You can also do this with thin slices of butternut squash!