Mennonite Apple Strudel

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 5 cups sliced apples
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup seedless raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 5 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Grated rind of 1 lemon

Instructions

1. Sift the flour and salt together.
2. Cut in the shortening and add the eggs and water.
3. Knead well, then throw or beat the dough against a board until it blisters.
4. Stand the dough in a warm place under a cloth for 20 minutes.
5. Cover the kitchen table with a small white cloth and flour it. Put the dough on it and pull it out with your hands very carefully to the thickness of tissue paper.
6. Spread with a mixture of the fruits, sugar, melted butter, cinnamon and lemon rind. Fold in the outer edges of the dough and roll like a jellyroll, about 4 inches wide.
7. Bake in a very hot oven (450 degrees F) for 10 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and bake about 20 minutes longer.
8. Let cool.
9. Cut into slices about 2 inches wide. It should be flaky and moist.