Caramel Apple Hand Pies (and a giveaway!)

Yesterday was my one year blogiversary! I really can't believe it's been a whole year of baking and posting.  It's been so amazing (virtually) meeting so many other bloggers and finding a place in such a great community.

A year ago I was in a strange place. My daughter had just started Kindergarten and I kept getting asked about what I was going to do now that she was in school. I knew I didn't want to go back to teaching. I wanted to continue staying home, but also I wanted to find something for me. Everything I'd been doing for the previous five years had been about my daughter. I knew I wanted to be doing something creative, but had no idea what.

Now, one year later, I know what my passion is. I know what I want to do when I grow up. Baking and blogging make me happy. Sure, spending time with my daughter does too, but there is something about spending time creating food and writing about it that is magical for me. I don't know what sort of a job I'll be in five years from now but I do know that it will, in some way, include my baking and this blog. Thank you all for continuing on this journey with me.

Now I may not admit this openly, (oops, I'm about to) but I love presents on birthdays and anniversaries.  (Come on, you know you all think that way too...right?) So because it's my blogiversary...I'm giving you a present!

I saw this cute petite pie maker at Sur la Table last month. I had to have one. I mean, it makes personal pies. How could I not have one? And, I grabbed two because I knew I'd want to share one with you all, my readers.

It's super simple to use - just roll out your pie dough and press to cut cute little scalloped circles. Fill with any filling and press again to seal. Bake and eat. It's a perfect individual dessert maker.

I made caramel apple pies with mine. Apple is one of my favorite pies and it's that time of year - caramel apple time. (And yes, I did use a fork to eat mine. Makes it last longer.)

Want to win this cute petite pie maker? (I mean, why wouldn't you? It presses a heart into the dough!)

****The giveaway is now closed****

You have four ways to enter this giveaway:

1. Leave a comment here. Any comment at all.
2. Do you follow me somehow? On Google Friend Connect, RSS, Facebook, or Twitter? Leave a separate comment and let me know. (Just once for any/all of the listed methods.)
3. Tweet this giveaway (include @crazyforcrust in your tweet) and then come back here and leave another comment saying you did.
4. Blog or post to Facebook about this giveaway, linking to this page. Then come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did.

Giveaway is open until the end of the day on Sunday, September 25th. I will pick a winner using random.org and announce it on Monday, September 26th.

Caramel Apple Hand Pies

Crust recipe by AllRecipes, filling recipe by Crazy for Crust

Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pie crust (from a box of two) OR use the following recipe for crust
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, diced and chilled
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup ice water
2 Granny Smith apples
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon tapioca (for thickening), optional
2 tablespoons caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse once to combine. Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture becomes coarse. Add the water slowly, one tablespoon at a time, while running the machine until dough comes together in a ball. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Peel and slice the apples thin. Place them, with 1 teaspoon of water, in a skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Cook for 3 minutes until the apples just begin to lose their very white color. Drain off excess liquid. Stir in tapioca if you are using it. Set aside.
3. Roll out your crust on a floured surface. Open the petite pie press completely and place it, scalloped side down, on the crust. Punch out two circles. Place one circle in the bottom half of the press. Add half the apple filling. Top with 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce. Place the second crust round on top and press the lid down. You may need to use a little water to help seal the edges. Repeat with rest of crust.  Bake at 350 degrees about 25 minutes. Serve warm (with ice cream, if desired).

*If you don't have a petite pie maker you can do the same thing by pressing out two circles of crust, adding your filling to the center and then use a fork to press the edges together.

Yield: 2 hand pies

Fine Print: I was not compensated in any way for this giveaway. I just wanted to give you all something I like. But hey, Sur la Table, if you're listening I'm always open to a sponsored giveaway! ;)

This recipe may be linked with:

Monday: Mingle Monday (Add a Pinch), Joy of Desserts. Tuesday: 2 Maids a Baking (2 Maids a Milking), Tea Party Tuesdays (Sweetology). Wednesday: Cast Party Wednesday, Made It On Monday (Lark's Country Heart), This Chick Cooks.  Thursday: Sweet Treats Thursday (Something Swanky), Chic-and-Crafty (Frugal Girls), Turning the Table Thursdays (Around My Family Table), Tasty Thursday (The How-To Mommy). Friday: Sweet Tooth Friday (Alli-n-son), I'm Lovin' it Fridays (TidyMom), Friday Favorites (Simply Sweet Home), Fusion Fridays (Jane Deere). Saturday: Sweets for a Saturday (Sweet as Sugar Cookies), Seasonal Inspiration (Crumbs and Chaos). Sunday: A Well-Seasoned Life,Sharing Sundays (Everyday Sisters)

***The giveaway is now closed.****