Ingredients
for the Crust
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/3 cup chilled solid vegetable shortening, diced
6 tablespoons (or more) ice water
for the Filling
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose corn starch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 pounds Pink Lady apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
Optional
1/4 cup apricot jam
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
Blend flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and shortening and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 6 tablespoons ice water and process until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather into ball; divide into 2 pieces. Flatten each into disk. Wrap each in plastic; chill 2 hours.
Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400F. Mix together sugar, corn starch, lemon juice, grated lemon peel, nutmeg and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add apples and toss to blend.
Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Fold edge under, forming high-standing rim; crimp. Add filling, avoiding all the liquid that may have come out of the apples. Roll out second dough disk on floured surface. Using a 1-inch star shaped cookie cutter, cut out about 50-60 stars. Using a bit of water and a pastry brush to “glue” the stars together and to the edge of the pie crust, arrange the stars in a lattice or swirl-like pattern.
Bake pie 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375F. Continue baking until juices bubble thickly and crust is deep golden, covering edges with foil if browning too quickly, about 1 hour.
Mix together apricot jam and lemon juice until smooth. Using a pastry brush, glaze lightly over entire surface of pie (this will give it a nice sheen and additional flavor). Let pie cool 1 hour before cutting.
