Summer Boost
Activity:
4th of July Strawberry Apple Pie
Everyone's heard that old phrase, “As American as apple pie!” Of course, there are lots of other great traditional American dishes, but there is something irresistible about a warm, fresh apple pie—a dish that hails from the early colonial days of America.
This apple pie recipe is a variation on a classic that couldn't be simpler to make: an apple-strawberry pie with a crunchy crumble crust that sneaks in some whole grain oatmeal!
This is a great activity to do along with your child. Apples and strawberries can be cut with a simple table knife, and any time you measure ingredients together, you’re helping your child build important math and science skills.
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What You Need:
- 1/3 cup butter
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1/3 cup whole, rolled oats
- Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans
- One frozen pie crust shell, 9” deep dish
- 1 cup cut-up strawberries
- 3 1/2 cups sliced, cored apples (we like to leave the skins on, but you can peel them if you like!)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
What You Do:
- To make the topping, using a fork or pastry cutter to cut the butter (mash it) into the flour until the butter is no larger than a small green pea. Then add the sugar and oats, and mix thoroughly. Add pecans if desired, and set the mixture aside.
- Set your frozen pie crust on a tabletop to thaw slightly. In the meantime, set your child to work helping you wash and chop apples and strawberries. Make sure you remove the seeds and cores from the apples; you may also want to peel them, but you can also keep them on for the extra nutrition!
- Have your child help you measure and mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Place the chopped fruit in a large bowl, and then pour the sugar brown sugar mixture over it and toss to fully coat the fruit.
- Pour the whole thing into your pie crust shell and shake it gently to distribute the fruit. (Note: pie crust sizes will vary somewhat. Try to make sure that the fruit reaches the same level as the edge, mounds slightly in the center, and doesn’t overflow!)
- Working quickly, use your hands to distribute the oat topping on top of the filling. Press it down to cover the entire top of the pie, and then bake your pie at 350° for about 30 minutes, or until the top and bottom crusts are golden brown and fragrant.
- Serve alone or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a classic, all-American treat!
