American Sniper The Legend

There are some things that come to mine when you think of America.  Freedom, opportunity, football, apple pie, hotdogs and The American Sniper,  Chris Kyle, Legendary U.S. Navy Seal, a real life story of an American hero and the sacrifices made by all veterans and their families.  This movie was directed by Clint Eastwood, who like Chris was a veteran. http://www.answers.com/article/1214217/13-celebrities-who-served-in-the-military.  I did not know Chris, but my brother Robert was a friend of his and had spoken of him on more than one occasion.  What an honor it must have been to be friends with such a hero.  It's such a tragedy that America has lost someone so young that had the skill, along with the courage, to protect our freedom.  There are numerous negative comments about snipers in the news lately.  If you were the one being held hostage, wouldn't you be praying that a sniper and his team could bring you back to safety?   I surely would!  Those thinking of him as a coward would believe differently if they were in harms way.  Excuses cannot be made for illogical reasoning.  As my husband Stone always says, "there is no medicine for stupidity."   Unfortunately, they will just have to live with their ignorance.
Carleen, Daniel, Helen, Mary, Stone and myself had the privilege of seeing the movie The American Sniper this evening.  While doing so I was reminded of the sacrifices that not only the military personal make, but also the families.  I speak from experience.  It's not easy when a spouse is deployed.  The partner left behind becomes more self-reliant while taking on the role for him or herself and the family.  The children get older and many warriors have a difficult time figuring out their new role in the family upon returning from deployment.
The movie American Sniper is the biggest war movie of all time.  It's about sacrifice, heroes, not just Chris, but all the military soldiers and what they do to protect our freedom.

My brother, Robert and Chris Kyle at a University Of Texas Football game.

Rich Emberlin, Burton Gilliam, Robert Johnson and The legend, Chris Kyle.

Chris Kyle-My brother, Robert Johnson and Rich Emberlin

Please send Facebook request for Robert Johnson to https://m.facebook.com/robert.johnson.7564129?ref=bookmark

 Twitter request @ https://twitter.com/rjjohnson1145

http://www.imdb.me/robertjjohnson

Chris, the legend releases steam from the pie while it bakes.  He redirects steam from the inside out as it bakes allowing for a crispy crust without overcooking the filling.

The Legendary Apple Pie

Ingredients:

1 (9 inch) double crust pie

5 cups Granny Smith Apples, peeled and sliced very thinly

4 Tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2-3 Tablespoons cream or milk
Wilton's White Sparkling Sugar

Directions:

Peel and slice thinly, apples and place into a large mixing bowl.  Add flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter.  Mix well.  Pour in to medium size pot and cook over medium heat about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally just to precook the apples a little.  You do not have to pre cook the apples, but I do. Set aside to cool.  

Preheat oven 425'.  Roll out pie crust and place into a 9 inch pie pan.  Pour in cooled filling.  In the middle of the pie filling place your Chris, The Pie Bird Funnel.  The Pie Bird Funnel that I have named Chris The Legend http://www.lecreuset.com/pie-bird  protects the pastry crust to avoid sagging.  It also provides a way for steam to escape therefore keeping the crust dry and crisp.  And lastly, helps to avoid leaks from the pie filling.  

Roll out second layer of pie crust cutting our a X in the middle for "Chris The Legend" the Pie Bird Funnel to stick out. 

Placing the second layer of pastry on top  of filling, the top of Chris The Legend should poke up through the pastry.  Crimp sides all around the pie.  Brush top of crust with cream or milk, sprinkle with Wilton's White Sparkling sugar http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=pg_sparklingsugars.   Bake for 40-45 minutes.  Serve with caramel ice-cream.  You know you want some.

This was a birthday gift from my daughter Malia a few years ago.  She knows how much I enjoy baking and like most bakers I love having all the neat little cooking gadgets.  I named my Pie Bird Funnel, "Chris The Legend."   Like Chris, The Legend protecting our country, the pie bird protects the pie while making it bake to the most perfect Apple Pie you will have ever eat.