In August, Southern Living had this recipe for Skillet Apple Pie that looked absolutely amazing.   You look at this pie and you think, I just have to make that.

The problem?  I didn’t have a cast iron skillet.   I know – what self-respecting southern lady doesn’t have a cast iron skillet?   Well,  I used to have several, but I got new pots and pans and the cast iron is so heavy I found myself not using it except for cornbread.   So I’ve got my divided corn bread skillet now, but I gave the rest of the pans away.   There was only one thing I could do.   I’d have to buy a new cast iron skillet.   Oh, yes, yes I did.

Once I got home with my new skillet, washed and all ready to go, I gathered up my 4 lbs of apples and started to work.   Now part of the joy of this pie is that you basically make a caramel in the bottom of the skillet and then place your bottom pie crust on top of the caramel.  MMMMM.   I was just about to add my apple mixture when I had a truly southern thought.   “This pie needs pecans!”   I tossed about 1 1/2 cups of pecans in some melted butter and then tossed them in cinnamon sugar.  I used the same ratio for the cinnamon/sugar as the recipe called for with the apples.

This is where I hit my first challenge.  The recipe called for a 10″ skillet, check.  It also called for store bought pie crust, check.  So, when I put my pie crust in the bottom , I realized it didn’t quite come up to the top of the skillet.  I figured I could make it work.  When I tried to put the top crust on, disaster struck.   Okay, maybe disaster is too strong of a word.  The top  crust was absolutely too SMALL.  It broke, it didn’t cover and there was no way I was going to be able to connect it to the bottom crust.   I decided it was easier to through together a quick pie crust (I used an oil recipe since I didn’t have any crisco in the house – I know, I’m soooo going to have to give up my southern card if I keep this up.).   Wanna see how it turned out?

I think this is the prettiest pie I’ve ever made in my ENTIRE life.   It’s gorgeous!   I look like a pro!  (Don’t worry, my pies never look like this.  I’m sure this is a fluke!)  My husband swears it’s the best thing I’ve ever made.  Not just the best pie, but the best thing ever.  I swear this thing is like 3 inches tall after its baked.

I kept forgetting to take a picture before most of it was gone and it’s hard to get a good picture after getting it on a plate because stuff keeps falling out.  But here’s an attempt.

Yeah, I’m not a food photographer.  And this is one of the last pieces of pie, because it really went quick.   Trust me, you have to try this recipe.  It’s really an easy recipe and the results are heaven.