Pie Crust: Don't Leave It Up to Pillsbury

In light of recent marijuana news, I feel like I should make some kind of baking joke here. I won't because, to be honest, it probably wouldn't be that funny.

But here is a recipe I've been meaning to post for quite some time, and I think it's one you should all try. I can't take credit for this recipe; I found it in a cookbook my mom put together for the preschool where she used to teach. However, I've been using this recipe for about 10 years now, and it's only really failed me once (because I forgot part of the ingredients). So that doesn't really count.

Moving on. One thing I strongly believe in is making your own pie crust. The stuff you buy in the refrigerator section tastes like cardboard (or how I imagine it would taste if I ever ate it). I'm sorry, Dough Boy, your crescent rolls are tasty but your pie crust is just awful.

This recipe will make two crusts. So you can use it for the bottom and top of the pie or make two crumb pies, etc.

3 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 egg
1 1/3 C Crisco
1 tsp white vinegar
5-7 T ice water




Combine first 5 ingredients. Add 5-7 T of ice water.

You don't want the dough to be too sticky, but don't overwork it.

Half the dough and roll out on pastry mat or wax paper until it suits the size pan you're using. This recipe will fit both shallow and deep dish pie pans. I find it is easiest to roll out on the pastry mat with a little flour and flip onto the pie pan rather than try to lift if off your counter after it's rolled out.



Note: You can use part butter and part Crisco, but I do not recommend using margarine (ever, for anything). I imagine you could use lard, if you have it, but I have yet to try! Lard is usually in the refrigerator section near the bacon and sausage, not by the dairy.

Homemade Pie Crust - A Battle with My Mom

Ever since I was young, my mom and I have fought over anything and everything - from what was appropriate to watch on tv, to buying a Trapper Keeper (mine had a cat on - big surprise), to my curfew, to cutting my hair (I won that one), and a number of things I won't even bother to mention. I credit my mom for part of my love of cooking. Growing up, she baked all my friends' and neighbors' cakes, believed in a home cooked meal and dinner time with family, and could usually be relied on to come up with some kind of dessert. Not to mention, she has made her own jam and canned her own vegetables. But the one thing she doesn't do, the one thing we still fight about is making homemade pie crust.

She firmly believes that making homemade pie crust is too difficult, even though I can't recall the last time she even made the attempt. Here is a woman who makes frosting from scratch and takes the time to make homemade strawberry jam but who is convinced a pie crust is beyond her talents. Of course, I hold my stance that while it does take more time than unrolling those crappy refrigerated Pillsbury** ones, it is more than worth it to make your own crust. Not only does it taste 1000x better (this has not been scientifically tested, btw) - kind of the difference between eating cardboard and, well, pie crust, but it's very easy to learn to do. Maybe the first time, it won't come out exactly how you want, but many of your best recipes probably haven't either. And if they have, then you really need to give making pie crust a try. It will probably take you 15 minutes longer, but it is absolutely worth it to get that flaky, buttery crust that is only achieved with a homemade crust. Plus, your pie will actually look homemade, and where I'm from (the glorious PA Dutch country), people know the difference.

*If you have leftover pie crust, try making a cinnamon roll style treat with the leftover dough! In my mom's family, her mom called them 'dough hickeys'. I have no idea why, but it is a tradition now every time I have leftover crust, which is pretty much every time. Just roll or press out the extra dough, spread a layer of butter on the dough, sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar, and roll up the dough. Then cut it into little cinnamon roll shaped pieces and bake for a few minutes. My mom would always wait for my extra pieces of 'dough hickeys' when I was making a homemade pie. They're only good if you use homemade crust though. So don't try this with cheater pie crust!

**As a sidenote: I have nothing against Pillsbury. I happen to really like their crescent rolls - especially the garlic butter flavor. I also really like the Grands biscuits, although I don't buy them often because they are a killer on calories (well for me since I could eat them all in one sitting). I just don't get why they have such a crappy tasting premade pie crust. It is really awful.