Ever since I move to “apple country” in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, I’ve been a fan of Stayman apples for everything from pies, to crisps, to applesauce, and just eating out of hand. I can’t say enough good things about Stayman apples, so I’ll just show you! At the top of this post is the rustic apple pie I made with a few of the Staymans I bought on Saturday. Almost within minutes of getting the apples in the house, Jon was asking for an apple pie. He prefers old-fashioned double-crust pies, and I always try to go with less crust, so to appease us both, I made this rustic “crust-and-a-half” pie, using just a bottom crust, but folding it up over the apples to make a sort of half-top crust. It seems to have done the trick because, well, the pie is now GONE!
Another one of my favorite ways to use only one crust is to use a bottom crust, and then do a crumble on top. I call it “Apple Compromise Pie” — and I posted the recipe here. This is what it looks like:
I still have a lot of apples left, so I’m sure I’ll be making another pie soon. If Jon has his way, it will have a double-crust like this one:
If you get a chance to buy Stayman apples, do yourself a favor and try some. Be sure you’re getting the “old style” Staymans — they’re smaller and darker than the new variety — and the old-style have a lot more flavor, too!
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I grew up in NoVA and every fall my family took a drive to the Front Royal area to get apples – including a bushel of Staymans. Now I live in another apple state and have new favorites, but one thing is clear – store apples are a completely different item from fresh local apples!
You’re absolutely correct, Rosemary. The supermarket apples taste NOTHING like the ones you can buy locally. Same with tomatoes…
So much amazing looking pie in this post! I love a crumble topped pie too.
Thanks Jojo.
I’ll be up in Harrisonburg in a few weeks. Where’s a good place to get these apples?
Lisa, I’m not sure about where to buy anything in Harrisonburg, but I think the apples would be available at a farmers market or at one of the orchard farm stands in that area. Maybe ask around when you get there or check the local newspaper or just drive around and look for signs — a lot of the orchards and farmers have stands and post signs.
thanks for the information. I’ll keep a lookout for them.
where is the recipe?????