Friday, November 4, 2011

The Foundation of Every Pie . . .

Many people avoid baking pies because the thought of making pie crust seems to be daunting to them. While the store-purchased dough for pie crust is adequate, it is cheaper and more tasty to attempt your own. This is an easy one.

Easy Pie Crust

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons iced water

Cut the shortening into the flour, sugar, and salt until you have rough crumbs. Blend in the water until the dough just clings together. Form into ball, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to fit the pie pan. Press into the pie pan and bring up along the edges to form a rim. You pie is now ready to fill! If you require a baked crust for a cream pie or such, poke holes around the bottom of the pie with a fork (to keep it from bubbling up) and bake at 350 degrees until golden.

Ideas . . .

I like to substitute half the iced water for cold vodka! No, I'm not a drinker but the vodka makes for a more tender crust. It is something about how the heat burns off the liquid.

If you are doing a baked pie crust for a sweeter pie, you can increase the sugar to 2 tablespoons and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Really want an easy pie? Make enough instant pudding to fill the baked and cooled crust, top with whipped cream, and you are a culinary success!

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