Apples are still falling from the sky. It is windy and warm in Helsinki. Ini and her husband are invited to their neighbor´s house tonight. It will be fun, she knows. It has been 19 years long lovely journey. Maybe the lovelines is due to three reasons. They never compare each other, they do only good deeds, and they never judge. There was a time, two years ago, when they decided to put up a mutual business. Before starting they agreed that even if it fails they will remain friends. It did fail, but they survived it. Ini is happy! Could have been terrible to loose their friendship.

It is time to experiment that apple pie. Ini will make a French variation. Outside French, inside something out of the ordinary. Why French? Her dear neighbor loves Paris. Let’s surprise her in the evening. For the readers, the pie only looks French! Inside Ini does not know how it tastes yet. You might find out in her next posting.

This is what she did:

FRENCH CHARM APPLE PIE, vegan, gluten free

For the crust she needed:

• 2 dl of dark rice flower
• 2 dl corn starch, Maizena
• 1 dl brown sugar
• 150 g margarine, if not vegan you can use butter
• Pinch of salt

She combined all ingredients into a bowl.

 

Mixed and knead the dough to combine all ingredients very well. She placed it evenly in a 22 cm pie baking mold.

Before putting into the oven, she glazed the surface with dates.

She used:

• 3 tablespoons of ice cold water
• 8 dates

She put the dates and water in a food processor and made a smooth liquid. She poured it on top of the pie crust and spread evenly to cover the crust.

Then she baked the crust for about 7 to 9 minutes in 200 C oven.

The filling she made out of the ordinary. At this point she has no idea how it will taste. Hopefully good! Risky and fun – this baking vegan and gluten free.

So she used:

• 2 dl sun flower seeds
• 1 dl sesame seeds
• 8 dates
• 1 dl rice flower
• 1 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoons cloves
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of chili powder

Again she used the food processor to smooth the filling. She spread it on top of the pie crust.

Now she made the apple flower pedals like the French do. One big pedal arrangement for the top of the pie.

She needed:

• 10 apples
• 1 dl melted margarine or butter if you are not vegan
• 1 dl jam sugar
• 1 juice of a lime
• Water

She washed and sliced the apples.

She combined about 1 liter of water and the lime juice. She cut and slice the apples.

She put the apple slices in the lime juice water. Heated in microwave oven until they softened. About 10 minutes. This made the apple slices softer for easier way to arrange on top of the pie.

In a separate bowl she combined melted margarine and jam sugar. She put the apple slices in the mixture. This way the slices got a nice glow, and they stack well together in the pedal arrangement.

She started adding the pedals from the outer circle towards the inner circle of the pie.

When ready, it looked like this.

She baked the pie in 200 C oven for about 20-30. Shen she turned the oven to 275 C and put the grill mode on. It gave nice color to the rose pedals. When slightly brown the pie was ready. She rushed outside to take some pictures.

And she rushed back in to take some more pictures.

Next time she writes you will know what the neighbors said. Did they like it or not!