Apple pie is a staple in not only America but also in the month of October. The question is, how do you perfect an apple pie? We have all the answers to your apple pie questions.

Texture and taste are the two most important qualities when considering an apple for baking. The apple you like best for everyday snacking might not be the best choice to use in a pie. Apples need to retain their shape and not turn into applesauce during baking. These apples will be able to offer a little bit of resistance and crunch even after a long time in the oven.

Baking apples should not be too sweet, since most pie recipes call for a fair amount of sugar. The sugar serves as flavoring and helps thicken the juice of the apples as they cook. Cutting down the amount of sugar to compensate for super-sweet apples can sometimes change the outcome of the final pie.

When baking an apple pie, Granny Smiths are always a decent choice for pie. They are easy to find, hold up during baking and soak up extra flavor from sugar and spices.

Jonathan, Jonagold and Pippin apples are other excellent sweet-tart choices. These apples are tart, so if you like an extra-sweet apple pie, these would be perfect.

Gravenstein, Braeburn, Fuji and Pink Lady apples are all crisp and sturdy, as well.

Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, despite their promising names, are not good choices for baking, and neither are Gala and Cortland, since they tend to become mealy in pie fillings. These apples are better for applesauce due to their soft texture.

We are fortunate enough to have an apple orchard close to Iowa State. Center Grove Orchard has many apples to choose from.

The types of apples they have in store are:

• Honeycrisp

• McIntosh

• Jonathan

• Empire

• Snow Sweet

• Golden Delicious

• Red Delicious

• Golden Supreme

• Jonagold

• Cameo

• Chieftain

• Mutsu

• Braeburn

• RJ Gold

The types of apples they have to pick are:

• Empire

• Jonathan

• Honey Gold

• Golden Delicious

• Red Delicious

• Chieftain

There are also many resources on Center Grove’s website for baking and what apples work best for recipes and when they are in season. www.centergroveorchard.com/apples-more/

Center Grove is located at 32835 610th Ave. Cambridge, Iowa 50046

Here is a recipe for a delicious Apple Pie Filling.

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 package of Pillsbury Pie Crust (in refrigerator section)

• 12 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced

• 3/4 cup sugar, plus additional for pie top

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

• Pinch ground cloves

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 large egg, beaten

Heat oven to 375 F.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out pie crust into two 1/8-inch-thick circles to a diameter slightly larger than that of an 11-inch plate. Press one pastry circle into the pie plate. Place the other circle on waxed paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill all pastry until firm, about 30 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice, spices, and flour. Toss well. Spoon apples into pie pan. Dot with butter, and cover with remaining pastry circle. Cut several steam vents across top. Seal by crimping edges as desired. Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with additional sugar.

Bake until crust is brown and juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Let cool on wire rack before serving.