One of my favorite desserts in the whole world is fried apple pies.  There was a time when I knew every granny woman in three counties who made these delectable treats.  A good sample right out of an old iron skillet would command a “king’s ransom.”  Several years ago my wife and I were visiting Mrs. Essie Jackson in the Upward community of HendersonCounty, a well known lady who knew all about natural herbs, yarbs and natural remedies and was a member of the Hendersonville Curb Market.  She loved chickens and fowl and always had some pheasants in the coups surrounding her little farm.  She had raised a large family who would come every Sunday and spend time with her and always a huge meal was prepared and the family would sit and enjoy each others company.

Mrs. Jackson had invited us into her home we were sitting in the living room having a wonderful conversation when my old eagle eyes roamed into the kitchen and sitting there on the table under an old glass cake plate was a freshly made batch of fried apple pies.  Right away my mouth began to water as my thoughts could only think about on what was under the lid of that old plate.  I asked,” Mrs. Jackson, are those fried apple pies?”  She said, “Why, yes, I made them this morning, do you want one?”  Of course my answer was an emphatic, “Yes.”  She got up from her chair and retrieved one of those delicious pies for me and made me a cup of “Joe” to go with it. When it comes to fried apple pies she made the best and when we were ready to leave she put me some to take home in a paper sack.

My wife’s grandmother, Pearl Capps, used to dry apples from an old tree which grew in the front yard of their home on Rock Creek.  I am not sure as to the type of apples they were but she would take these dried apples and conjour up some of the most dainty of pies.  When she had the inclination she would make a whole stack of the apple pies and when she found out this was one of my favorites, she would be sure and save some for me.  The crust was made out of flour and thin as paper, she would put the apple filling in the middle and these pies would melt in your mouth.  Little wonder the Sam and Pearl Capps home was always a favorite place for us to visit.  I think Pearl enjoyed watching me eat those pies about as much as I enjoyed eating them.

Some folks cheat by using those canned biscuits, such as Hungry Jacks. they roll the uncooked dough with theri rolling pins and place in a cast iron skillet with butter, similar to cooking a hoe cake, when brown on the cooked side you can add dried apple fruit and fold in half allowing to completely brown. Not as good as the old fashioned kind but will do for a quick apple turnover,and goes good with a hot cup  cup of Maxwell House or Folgers Columbian coffee.