Apple Pandowdy

In Civil War Days, there was the following recipe for apple pandowdy.  The origin of the name pandowdy is unknown, but it may have come from the fact you break the crust and then the dessert becomes dowdy (messy, shabby) in appearance.  Well Miriam’s hands became “messy” when she was helping mix the apples in the spices.

Ingredients

• ready-made pie dough (refrigerated kind)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 8 large baking apples
• 4 tbsp lemon juice
• tap water
• 5 tbsp butter
• 1/2 light molasses
• optional: cream, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream

Directions

1. Keep the pie dough in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Measure the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt into a large mixing bowl. Stir with a mixing spoon.
3. Peel and core the apples, and cut them into slices about 1/2 inch thick.
4. Pour about 1 cup of water into the small bowl and stir in the lemon juice. As soon as each apple is sliced, dip the slices in the lemon water. This will keep the apple slices from turning brown. (I skipped this part).
5. Place the apple slices in the large mixing bowl and stir well to coat all of the slices with some of the spice mixture.
6. Coat the bottom of a casserole (1 1/2 quart) or baking dish (9x13x2) with 3 tbsp of butter.
7. Remove the pie dough from the refrigerator and roll it out to fit the top of your casserole or baking dish.
8. Place the apple mixture in the casserole or baking dish, and pour the molasses over the top. Dot some of the apples with pieces of the leftover butter.
9. Lift the crust and place it on top of the apple mixture. Make sure the apple mixture is completed covered with the crust. If you have leftover dough, fit it around the sides of the casserole or baking dish.
10. Bake the apple pandowdy at 400 degrees for 12 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes more. The pandowdy is done with the crust is lightly browned.
11. Break into the crust with a mixing spoon, shoving some of the pieces down into the apple mixture.
12. Serve it warm...either plain or with one of the suggested toppings. <.ol> It was yummy, but would have been even better if we had some ice cream to go with it!