Brown Butter and Cheddar Apple Pie

filling

• 3 pounds apples, preferably a combo of Cortland and Honey Crisp, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

pie crust

• 2 1/2 cups AP flour
• 3 tablespoons semolina flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 2 tablespoons cold lard
• 1/2 cup grated sharp yellow cheddar
• small glass ice water
• 1 egg, beaten for egg wash

1. Toss apples and sugars together in large bowl. Set aside for an hour to allow apples to break down.
2. Sift flours and salt together by hand or in bowl of food processor.
3. Add butter, along with the lard and cheese, to flour mixture. Pulse food processor (or cut into flour quickly by hand) just until fat and flours turn into a pebbly mixture.
4. Remove blade from processor and sprinkle about 6 tablespoons of ice water on pebbly mixture. Using your hands, gently combine until the dough starts to hold together. Add more water as needed.
5. Cut dough in half and form into disks, one a bit bigger than the other. Wrap with wax paper and chill for about 30 minutes.
6. Roll out larger disk of dough on floured surface. Gently fit into pie dish, crimping the edges. Refrigerate for another 30 minutes. Pre-heat oven to 400.
7. Poke dough in pie dish with fork to ventilate. Line with parchment or foil and add pie weights (or beans and/or rice). Bake for 10 minutes. Remove parchment and pie weights and bake for another 5-10 minutes until pie shell starts to look dry-ish on the bottom. Cool.
8. Meanwhile, onto the filling: Melt the 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over med-high heat. Swirl until the foam subsides and the butter turns a nut brown color. Watch closely - this can burn quickly. Toss with apples.
9. Dissolve the cornstarch in the 2 tablespoons of water and toss into apple mixture.
10. Roll out second disk of dough on floured surface to fit the top of your pie.
11. Fill par-baked pie shell with apple mixture. Gently fit top over the filling, crimping the edges. With a sharp knife, cut slits or poke with fork to vent.
12. Beat egg with one tablespoon of water. Brush egg wash on top of pie.
13. Bake at 350 for about 50-60 minutes, until filling is bubbly.