Neiman Marcus $50 Apple Pie... It's That Good!

The cream in this recipe makes it special and, of course, creamier --

• Ready In: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Serves: 10
• Yields: 1 Pie

Ingredients

• 2  cups unbleached white flour
• 1⁄2 cup  unsalted kerry irish gold butter, chilled, cut into small pieces
• 1⁄2 cup  crisco vegetable shortening
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3 -4  tablespoons  ice water
• 11  cups  cored peeled, sliced Rhode Island Greening apples (about 12)
• 3⁄4 cup white sugar
• 1⁄4 cup unbleached white flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3 cup heavy cream or 2⁄3 cup  whipping cream
• 1  tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 cup milk, for brushing on top crust

Directions

1. To prepare the crust:
2. Place the flour, chilled butter, shortening and salt in a food processor. Process just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. With the machine running, add enough ice water through the feed tube for the dough to begin to form a ball.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wap or wax paper and refrigerate
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
6. Divide the pastry dough in half.
7. Roll out one-half into a 12-inch circle on a lightly floured surface.
8. Line a 10-inch pie plate wirh the dough and trim the edge
9. Prepare the filling:
10. Place the apples in a lare mixing bowl and toss with the sugar, flour, salt, cream and cinnamon [or 1 tsp cardamom or dash of angostura bitters].
11. Mound the filling in the pie shell.
12. Roll out the remaining dough 1/8 inch thick.
13. Cover the pie with the top crust, pressing firmly to seal the edge, and crimp the edge decoratively.
14. Make several small steam vent slashes in he top crust. Brush the crust with a little milk to ensure a shiny crust.
15. Place the pie on a baking sheet to catch any drippings while baking.
16. Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. If the crust seems to be getting too brown, cover it loosely with foil and continue baking.
17. Cool the pie overnight
18. Serve at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.
19. Serves 8-12.