Comfort Food Monday: Simple Apple Slice

What does the term comfort food mean to you? For me, it's food that makes me feel warm and cozy. Comfort food often reminds me of family, home, love and a sense of well-being. Comfort food is also dang tasty. Deliciousness paired with feelings of snugness? Clearly comfort foods are the best, which is why I'm excited to announce a new weekly series, "Comfort Food Mondays." We all need a little love on Mondays, right? 

The first recipe in this big, warm, fuzzleball of a series is a dessert will always remind me of home. It comes from my grandma's collection of family recipes, and my mom made it all the time when I still lived at home. It's really simple, really delicious and perfect for a chilly fall day. I definitely recommend serving it with a scoop of ice cream, whipping cream, or even some vanilla yogurt on top. 

Apple slice is basically a no-fuss apple pie. First we make a crust that consists of flour, shortening, a pinch of salt and sugar, an egg yolk and milk. Combine these ingredients, stir until it just comes together, the roll out half right on a cookie sheet. Top with apple slices, cover with cinnamon and sugar, cover with the rest of your dough and pop it in the oven. There is a reason my mom made this so often...it's simple! 

What are some of your favorite comfort foods? I'm excited to start this series with you guys! Ice cream Sundays were great, but one can only eat so much ice cream before you want something warm, filling, and filled with love. 

Simple Apple Slice:
2 1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1 egg yolk
approx. 2/3 cup milk
5 cups sliced and peeled Granny Smith apples (about 3-4 apples, depending on size)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Glaze:
lemon juice, approx. 1/2 lemon
several tbs. powdered sugar
*Don't overthink this glaze! Add a few tbs. powdered sugar, add some lemon juice, combine and add more juice or sugar to reach desired consistency. Should pour easily.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, sift flour then stir in sugar and salt. Add shortening to flour mixture, and use your hands to combine flour and shortening until the shortening is in small balls.
2. Place egg yolk in a measuring cup and add milk to make 2/3 of a cup. Lightly whisk together, and add to flour/shortening mixture. Use your hands to combine, mixing just enough so dough shapes into a ball.
3. Split the dough into halves. Roll out on half of the dough onto cookie sheet, using flour to keep dough from sticking to the rolling pin. Dough should roll out to be about 12 x 12.
4. Spread apple slices over dough, leaving a small amount of dough around the edges. Mix together sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon, then pour evenly over apple slices.
5. Roll out remaining dough and cover apple slices. Use your fingers to seal bottom and top layers of dough together. Puncture top of your dough with a knife, and place in oven for 30-40 minutes. Apple slice should be golden brown, and you will probably have syrup seeping out the edges.
6. Remove from oven, and while still hot, drizzle with glaze. Let cool, then cut into slices and enjoy!