Things I am Thankful for and Cinnamon Apple Pie with Raisins

Posted on November 24, 2011 by

This has been a though year…many things happened and I felt I was almost going crazy. Work at the office has been hectic, my mom open heart surgery and all the fear and stress that came with it, my painful break up with my 4 year boyfriend, and last but not least my car accident and my knee injury which will prevent me to take part to the Shanghai marathon I was training for and to dance for a long time…

However today I start to think and to be honest I felt a bit ashamed of myself even only considering I had nothing to be gratefull for this year and you know what? I have a lot to thanks for:

1. I’m thankful for my parents, who no matter what, are always there for me. They are loving and supporting and allowed me to experience many things, regardless of how much they were worried sometimes.

2. I’m thankful for my sister who loves me and cheers me up when I’m down

3. I’m thankful for the friends I have in Shanghai who care for me and love me and who are there for me anytime I need (special thank to my friend chef Mike)

4. I’m thankful for being able to work hard and achieve my goals

5. Im thankful for traveling to forein countries and learn everyday new things

6. I’m thankful for being still alive, the accident I was in last week could have killed me or injured me worse than it did

7. I’m thankful for being surrounded by people that constantly remind me that I am a good person

8. I’m thankful for being Italian…I’m just thankful for my own. It might not be the peftect place but I’m thankful regardless.

9. I’m thankful for having a roof on my head and food to eat everyday

10. I’m thankful for being able to be thankful. Lots of people just can’t see and appreciate what they have.

So despite life is hard and we need to struggle sometimes, I’m happy and tonight I am going to celebrate to all this!

But now let me share with you this delicious pie!

Ingredients:

1 pie crust (unbaked)

for the filling:

  • 2 granny smith apples
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 3/4 cup green raisins
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the topping:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
Measure about 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
Grate the lemon
and in a bowl combine sugar, lemon zest, flour and cinnamon.
Grab 2 granny smith apples
Peel them and slice them into thin slices
Soak into warm water the rasins
then drain them and add them to the bowl together with the apples and vanilla extract.
Stir all the ingredients together
Take your pie crust
Pour the filling onto it
Cover the edges with foil paper and bake at 180 C (375 F) for about 40 min.
Meanwhile prepare the topping. In a bowl combine flour, sugar and cinnamon
Add the butter cut into cubes.
Using your hands mix all the ingredients together until the mixture begins to clumps together.
Take the pie out of the over and cover it with the topping.
Keep baking for about 20 min at 180 C (375 F) then cover it with foil paper and bake for 20 more minutes. Remove from the over and let it cool down.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Love
– Little Dani

About the author:

An Italian living in China with a strong passion for cooking! Browse my 'left-overs' session for many tasty grub!. Follow her on Twitter / Facebook.