Blue-Ribbon Apple Pie

Ingredients

• 1 recipe Double-Crust Pie Pastry (see previous recipe)
• 1/3 cup ( 75 mL) shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
• 1 large egg, separated
• 4 tart apples (such as Northern Spy or Granny Smith)
• 4 sweet apples (such as McIntosh or Golden Delicious)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) firmly packed light
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup (75 mL) sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp (.5 mL) ground allspice
• 1/8 tsp (.5 mL) grated nutmeg
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) cold water (optional)