Apples for the Cooking Class

Today I started another round of "Boys Can Cook" at 3:00 homeschool enrichment classes, followed by "Girls Can Cook" at 4:00.  The main element for my teaching success is choosing recipes that can be made and EATEN within the one hour session.  Our first week's theme was based on Johnny Appleseed's late September birthday, so we made Apple Cake, Apple Fritters, and Fried Apple Pies.  The fried apple pies were pretty amazing considering we don't eat junk food like that very often.  Those crispy edges from frying in lard made Paula Dean's recipe the class favorite.
Fried Apple Pies
2 T. butter
4 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. lemon juice
1 tube (large) refrigerated flaky biscuits
Melt the butter in a skillet on medium heat. Then add apples, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook for about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool. (Or stir into can of apple pie filling the sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.)
2. When the filling is cool, roll the biscuits out on a lightly floured surface so that each biscuit forms a 7 to 8-inch circle. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling on each biscuit circle. Brush the edges of the circle with water. Fold the circle over the filling to make a half-moon shape. Seal by pressing the edges with a fork.
3. Preheat deep-fryer with oil to 350' F. Carefully add the pies to the oil and fry until golden brown, turning the pies as necessary for even browning, about 5 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with powdered sugar immediately.