Apple pies, the apple of my eyes

Where shall one begin with a cranky, tiny old oven and a rusty pair of hands?

I shall start with apple pies. Crispy and crusty on the outside, sweet, juicy and flavourful inside...

Ingredients (makes one medium (9") plus one small (6") pies):

1. Filling - 10 Fuji apples, 250g sugar (medium sweet), 50g butter, 1 table spoon (optional) lemon juice
2. Pie Crust - 200g flour, 100g butter, 10g sugar, pinch of salt, 1 egg
3. Crumble - 200g flour, 200g butter (enough for lots of crumble on top!)

To prepare pie filling, core apples and cut into small or medium size cubes;

• Cook the cubed apples with all other ingredients in 1. above, bring to boil; turn down the fire till the apples caramalise (Note: as Fujis are in itself juicy, do not add water);

• For the pie crust, mix flour and butter with hand, till fluffy and soft, add the egg to consolidate the mixture into a ball of dough;
• Wrap the dough in cling wrap and place in the fridge for 30 minutes;
• Pre-heat oven to 160 to 180 degree C / gas mark 5-6 (different ovens vary in heat);
• Cut the dough into 2/3 and 1/2 (for medium and small pies), scatter some flour on a clean table top and roll each as evenly as possible, then place it on the pie pan and mould into shape;
• Put in the caramalised apple filling;
• Mix ingredients in 3. above, i.e. butter and flour into crumbly bits and spread it on top of the pies;
• Bake for approx. 30 to 40 minutes.