Chemical Apple Pie (or No-Apple Apple Pie)

I got this recipe from my science teacher in the late 80's. Somehow it's survived the years, although I've lost it many times. The recipe is for an apple pie made without apples. It looks, smells, tastes, and has the consistency of apple pie. The following is the "lab sheet/experiment" the way I received it all those years ago:

I've also submitted this recipe to allRecipes.com They've got some great tips and all kinds of recipe features. Check them out!

Our senses are very limited and easily fooled. A chemical can prepare a synthetic flavor that our senses can not differentiate from the real thing. In this experiment, you will make an apple pie. It will be an unusual apple pie because it will contain no apples! It will, in fact, be a chemical apple pie. You will give your pie all the characteristics of an apple pie, adding crackers to simulate the bulk of the apples. You can do this experiment at home, in the home-economics laboratory, or anywhere there is an oven available. Have fun and enjoy your "apple" pie!

PROBLEM

To demonstrate the use of artificial flavors and the limitation of the senses, and to prepare a chemical pie.

MATERIALS

Pastry for two pie crusts
Sugar (sucrose, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)
Cinnamon
Butter
Cream of tarter (potassium bitartrate)
Crackers (round, snack crackers, eg. RITZ CRACKERS)
Large Pot
Pie pan

PROCEDURE

Turn on oven at 450 degrees F
Bring 500 ml of water to a boil in a large pot (approx. 2 cups)
Mix 1.5 cups of sugar with 1.5 teaspoons of cream of tartar.
Add this mixture to the boiling water.
Add 25 whole crackers, one at a time, to the water.
Boil for 3 min. but do not stir.
Pour this mixture into a pastry-lined pie pan.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Dot lightly with butter.
Cover with a pastry top. Pierce the top several times with a knife to allow steam to escape.
Bake at 450 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until done.
Cool and enjoy the results of your experiment!

QUESTIONS

1. What flavors can you detect in your apple pie?
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2. List some other food products which contain artificial flavors.
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