This Calls for a Treat: Apple Pie with Walnut Streusel

It's officially The Holiday Season, friends. A time when I can publicly indulge and pretend I'm not that big of a pig all year round. It is also the season for pies, and this is my most favorite apple pie. I found the recipe during our first year of marriage-when I was a beginning foodie and would spend my time at work (a secretary for my dad's office) reading recipes on the internet, and have since made it every year.

Apple Pie with Walnut Streusel
Serves 8 generously

9 inch pie crust, storebought or this Martha Stewart recipe is what I use

For the topping:
4 Tbl. butter, softened
4 Tbl. firmly packed brown sugar
4 Tbl. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

For the filling:
3 pounds (about 6 medium) apples (I like Granny Smith)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbl. flour
1 Tbl. lemon juice
3/4 tsp. cinnamon

Prepare the pie crust and lay it in your pie plate.
For the topping:
In a small bowl with your fingertips blend the butter, brown sugar, and flour until smooth and blend in the nuts. Chill topping in the refrigerator until ready to use.

For the filling:
Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 1/2 inch wedges and in a bowl toss with remaining ingredients to coat.

To assemble and bake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spoon filling into shell (don't put the streusel on yet!) and bake for 1 hour and remove from oven. Crumble topping evenly over pie, and bake an additional 30 minutes. (Do not at this time leave your house to deliver children to playdates and gymnastics class. My pie is a little more browned than usual for this reason.)

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

As readers of my blog, I'm afraid you are obligated to view pictures of my children in their halloween costumes: