FRIED DRIED APPLE PIES

Pie Crust:

4 cups flour (plain)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups shortening

Sift flour, baking powder and salt into bowl. Take out 2/3 of this mixture and mix it with 1/2 cup of milk to form a paste. Add the shortening to remaining flour (3 1/3 cups) and blend until pieces are the size of small peas.

Add flour paste and shortening flour mixture. Mix well until dough comes together and can be shaped into a ball. Roll out crusts 1/8 inch thick. Makes 5 pies. Use more liquid if you desire softer dough.

Pie Filling:

6 cups dried apples
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons allspice
3 1/2 cups sugar

Mix all ingredients together in large sauce pan or kettle. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Cool overnight before making pies.

This brings back sweet memories, Mama. My Mama used to dry apple slices in the warm sun and store them to make fried apple pies for her family.

She also strung green beans on string and dried them. They were called leather britches down south.

I remember my uncle making leather britches! He was our Italian redneck!