Pie for Lent

This wonderfully simple recipe was one of the first apple pies I made earlier this year once it was made and the handwritten notes did I promptly forgot to type them up.  (Also I had no photo so I had to redo it ;)). It’s one of the very successful ones, the spicing is not far from what we’re currently used to so given the limited amount of sugar it goes very well for modern occasions.

It is titled a pie for lent. Applepie must have been common enough to not need a separate mention in the title. The recipe just above this one is for ‘apple pie’ and contains parsley, ginger, saffron and cinnamon as well as apples.

The last pie I made came with a lid prescribed. There’s no lid mentioned here but I liked the look of it and it made the pie moister which was good for the crust. The apple juice seeps into the crust giving the rather bland hot-water one I used some flavor.

This recipe came from KANTL 15, volume 2. A handwritten collection of recipes. It has been reprinted in 1986,  Een nieuw zuidnederlands kookboek uit de vijftiende eeuw by W.L. Braekman. A more thorough introduction can be found at Coquinaria.

[6]. Om een tarte te maeken in die vasten Neemt appelen caneel suycker ende vygen ende rosynen ende gengeber

2.6. To make a pie for Lent
Take apples, cinnamon, sugar, figs, raisins, and ginger.

(transcription and translation courtesy of Christianne Muusers)

Modern redaction, Good for 1 pie in an Ikea large pie pan:

• 1 Piecrust, I made a hot water crust with 500g flour (2/3 go on the bottom, 1/3 on the lid)
• 7 Apples, Granny Smith
• 40g sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• handful of raisins
• 5 dried figs quartered

1. Peel apples, quarter & core (if not adding a lid, chop into small pieces)
2. Mix in a small bowl sugar, cinnamon & ginger
3. Make your pie crust if needed
4. Spread figs&raisins on the bottom of the pie crust
5. Lay your apples on the pie crust
6. Sprinkle with the sugar&spice mixture
7. Add lid to pie, making sure to close the edges by pinching the two layers of dough together
8. Serve as lunch