All American Apple Pie

(Courtesy of Gourmet magazine)

Ingredients:
Prepared frozen, refrigerated or homemade pastry for double-crust 9 inch pie
3/4 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
6 c. peeled and cored apples (about 6) sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine


Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line a 9 inch pie pan with half of the pastry.  Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and lemon zest in a large bowl.  Add the apples and toss to coat evenly.  Spoon the apple mixture into the pie shell.  Sprinkle with lemon juice and dot with butter.  Top with remaining pastry.  Trim and flute the edges.  Cut slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn down the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking the pie until the crust is golden and the apples are tender, about 45 minutes longer.  Serve warm or at room temperature.