Ruby Lai of Walnut Creek won the 2nd annual Fourth of July Apple Dessert Bake-off Contest sponsored by Southwest Airlines. Ruby won the Grand Prize of a Family Four pack of round trip tickets on Southwest Airlines to Seattle to enjoy the annual Sea Fair Festival on Saturday, July 31. The complete prize package also includes one night hotel stay and four grandstand tickets to the Southwest Airlines Torch Light Parade.

APPLE SOUR CREAM STREUSEL PIE

Make plain old apple pie even better with a topping made of sour cream & streusel.

1 (9") unbaked pie crust
5 medium apples, peeled & sliced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/4 cup minced candied ginger
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts

Toss together apples, lemon juice, lemon zest & ginger. Arrange in pie crust. Combine sour cream, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, egg & vanilla. Pour over apples. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. While the pie is baking, mix together the streusel topping ingredients. Remove the pie from the oven & sprinkle the streusel over the top to cover evenly. Return it to the oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake 20 - 30 minutes or until apples are tender.

Makes 8 - 10 servings.