Alex's Old Fashioned Apple Pie

This is my absolute favourite and just a little different from all the others I have seen. The whole wheat flour makes all the difference

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8-10
• Yields: 9 1/2 inch double crust pie

Ingredients

• Dough

• 2  cups whole wheat flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3 cup  chilled  leaf lard
• 2  tablespoons  chilled butter
• 4  tablespoons water

• Filling

• 4 -6  apples (northern spry if you can get them)
• 1⁄2-2⁄3 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1 -1 1⁄2 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄8 teaspoon clove
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
•  cinnamon sugar

Directions

1. To make the crust.
2. Mix salt and flour well.
3. mix butter and lard.
4. cut the half the fat mixture into the flour with a pastry cutter or 2 butter knives.
5. when it is well mixed it will be about the same grain as cornmeal
6. add the rest of the fat mixture and cut in until it has about pea sized grain
7. sprinkle about 4 tablespoons water over the dough and mix lightly until it form a ball
8. do not overwork once you add the water.
9. divide in half and roll the dough out into 2 rounds about 1/4 inch think.
10. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
11. place one round into a pie plate.
12. Peel and slice the apples and put them into a bowl.
13. in another bowl mix the sugar salt cornstarch and spices
14. sift the sugar mixture over the apple mixture and mix well
15. place the apple mixture into the pie crust.
16. dot with butter and sprinkle with lemon and vanilla.
17. Only add the lemon rind if the apples are bland.
18. wet the edges of the crust and place the second round over the pie to form the top crust.
19. make some slashes to allow steam to escape or do as I do an make a few cuts with a miniature cookie cutter ( I use hearts or leaves) pinch and trim the edges.
20. sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake for 10 minutes.
21. reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until done 35-40 minutes.