User blog:BladeBronson/Blue Ribbon Pie: First Try

My girlfriend has several blue ribbon wins for artwork and some friends recently won a blue ribbon at the Alameda County fair for their American IPA beer. I'm on a mission to win a blue ribbon for something classically American: a pie.

To achieve this goal, I'll be baking a pie from scratch every week until I perfect a recipe. Kim, Kacie, Sena, Lauren, and Jeska from Wikia, along with my girlfriend, Melissa have agreed to taste and judge each pie. My first attempt was a cheddar apple pie.

Crust

 * 2 cups flour
 * 1 teaspoon salt
 * 1 cup shortening
 * 1/2 cup water

Filling

 * 3 Granny Smith apples
 * 3 Fuji Apples
 * A handful of brown sugar
 * A couple shakes of cinnamon and white sugar
 * 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions
Blend crust ingredients together, wrapped in plastic, refrigerate overnight. Peel and core the apples, add brown sugar, cinnamon, and white sugar. Roll bottom pie crust, put in pie pan, cover with shredded cheese. Add apples, a little bit more cheese, and add top crust. Cut vents and brush with butter. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, reduce to 400 and bake for 30 minutes.

Feedback

 * Crust was too thick, needed more salt, but was nice and flaky
 * Couldn't taste the cheese
 * White cheddar recommended
 * Add cheese to crust
 * Needed more sugar taste - "gooey warmth"
 * Apples should have been more crisp, more tart
 * Brown butter recommended