You can tell a lot about someone by the way they cook.

I love to cook. There is something about the chemistry of it- not that I am scientific. I just enjoy the magic of starting with a pile of different things, and making something totally unrelated out of it all. Flour becomes pizza eventually. The two don't look much alike. There are a lot of other reasons. Genetics (I'm Italian), some sense of domesticity, and well, it's fun. And if I am not cooking, I can let someone else, and just enjoy the view.

http://foodporndaily.com/

Seriously. The prettiest pictures ever.

I am not a food snob, nor am I judgmental person. I am happy with whatever I am served wherever I go. But sometimes...I would rather say: "Please! Stop! Come home with me and let me show you how to make this!" Well, that's how I would say it nicely.
 
I get really annoyed when awful food is presented as awesome. Or the chef IS a food snob and believes their recipe is far superior to any others.  With no room for discussion or improvement.

Or you could be someone like the First Lady of  The State of New York:

http://foodnetworkhumor.com/category/food-network-hosts/sandra-lee/

But she knows she can't cook. And I am pretty sure she has purchased her fanbase.

My point is, I wish people could cook without feeling they HAVE to be the best, or need to impress their guests. I also wish I could cook MY best meals without thinking back to my Nona in her kitchen and wondering if I will become as crazy as she was someday.

Why can't my best friend just cook a pot roast? Why does she need to buy a $225 Staub dutch oven and text me photos of it? I wish I could tell her it's a big waste of money. But she isn't a single mom with a mortgage!

So here is how to make an apple pie. First, don't mess with it. Keep it simple. Pick your apples- any kind will do, but keep in mind that the juicier they are the higher the likelihood you will end up with applesauce in a crust. So pick something big and firm (green).

Don't play with crust. Don't use a food processor. Peel your apples. Smaller slices cook better. And throw your first pie out. At least that's what I did. It takes practice, so keep trying!

Heat oven to 425

Crust: 2 2/3 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup shortening, 7-8 tbs of ice water. Cut the shortening into the flour and salt until it's crumbly. Add the water a little at a time, mix lightly with your hands until it all clings together. Separate into two balls, and set aside.

Filling: peel and slice 8 -10 apples, add 1 cup of sugar, 1 1/2 tbs of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, and 2 tbs of orange juice.

Role one ball of dough onto a silicone mat. Transfer to a pie plate, add your filling and top with a few pats of butter. Roll out the second ball of dough, place it on top, and poke some slits with a knife or fork. I wish I had some great tips for pretty edges, but I am pretty bad at that. Check out Martha Stewart. I just pinch it all together, and cover the edges with strips of tin foil. Bake for about an hour, and enjoy after it cools!