Lemon Nutmeg Pie Crust Dough Food

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt to combine. Add the butter, tossing the cubes through the flour until the pieces are separated from one another and each piece is coated.
• Cut the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your palms or fingertips, flattening the cubes into big shards and continuing to toss them in the flour to recoat the shards. The size of the butter will vary depending on the kind of pie you're making: For fruit pies, stop when the butter pieces are about the size of walnut halves. For custard pies, stop when the butter pieces are smaller, about the size of peas.
• Make a well in the center of the mixture. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and mix it in by tossing the flour in the bowl. (This tossing movement lets the moisture incorporate without allowing too much gluten formation.)
• Continue to add ice water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until the dough begins to come together. As it comes together, fold it over itself a few times to make sure it's homogenous. The dough should hold together without noticeable cracks (a sign of underhydration), but it should not be wet or tacky to the touch (a sign of overhydration).
• Form the dough into a disk about 1-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using, and up to 2 days. (It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, then thawed overnight before using.)

TART LEMON PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out a disk of dough into a circle about ¼-inch thick. Starting at one end, gently roll up the dough onto the rolling pin. Unfurl the dough over a 9-inch pie plate, preferably ceramic, and press it in lightly, making sure it's lining the plate.
• Trim so that there's about ½ inch of excess dough hanging over the edge of the pie plate. (If the dough feels warm, refrigerate it for 15 minutes.) Tuck the excess dough under itself so it is flush with the edge of the pie plate; leave the pie like this for a straight-edge finish, or crimp as desired. Dock the base and sides all over with a fork and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
• Roll out the second disk of dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut out several small triangles (or other shapes from the dough); do as many as you like, and as many as a few dozen for a more intricate design. You can cut them freehand, trace a stencil using a paring knife or use a small cookie cutter. Transfer the shapes to a baking sheet lined with parchment and chill at least 30 minutes.
• Place a rack on the bottom shelf of the oven, and place a baking stone, if you have one, on the rack. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Use a small brush to evenly paint egg wash on the edge of the crust. Cut a square of parchment paper and use it to line the crust. Fill with pie weights (or dried beans) up to the top edge. Place the plate on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil.
• Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, placing it directly on the baking stone if using. Bake until the outer edge is beginning to become golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. Remove the parchment and pie weights. If the dough puffs up anywhere, you can puncture it with a fork. Continue to bake until the base is baked through and the outer edge is deeply brown, 12 to 15 minutes more. Cool the crust completely.
• Egg wash the top of the triangle cutouts. Transfer to the oven on the middle rack and bake until they are evenly golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool completely.
• When the crust is cool, make the filling: In a medium pot, whisk the lemon juice, lemon zest and ½ cup/120 milliliters water to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, cornstarch and salt to combine. Whisk this mixture into the pot and then place it over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and cook at a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes.
• In a medium, heatproof bowl, lightly whisk the whole eggs and egg yolks. When the lemon mixture has come to a simmer, gradually add about ¼ of the hot liquid to the egg yolks in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly to combine.
• Whisk the egg yolk mixture back into the pot, and switch to a heatproof spatula. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes. It should come to a boil - not small bubbles around the outer edge, but fat bubbles from the center of the pot. (You should also see a distinct line that quickly closes in on itself if you drag your spatula through the curd.) Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the butter, a few cubes at a time. Mix thoroughly to combine.
• Strain the lemon curd through a fine mesh sieve into the cooled pie crust, and spread into an even layer. Place plastic wrap directly over the surface when the pie is still hot and chill until the curd is set, at least 3 to 4 hours and up to overnight.
• If you like, create an optional spiral on the surface of the pie once the curd is fully cool: Transfer the pie to a cake turntable. If the surface looks uneven, smooth it with a small offset spatula. Then place the spatula in the center of the curd at a 45-degree angle, and begin to rotate the turntable while you gently move the spatula towards the outer edge. Move steadily and not too slowly.
• Keep the pie chilled until ready to serve. Just before serving, arrange the cutouts on the surface of the pie in 6 diagonal lines. If you like, alternate the points of the triangles on each line to create a more graphic effect. Serve with whipped cream, if desired. Store leftovers in the refrigerator wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.

LEMON ZEST PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Sift flour and sugar into a large bowl. Cut in butter until it is in pea-sized pieces.
• Make a "well" in the flour mixture. Pour in water and lemon zest. Carefully fold into the flour mixture until lightly combined.
• Make another "well" and pour in lemon juice; lightly fold into the batter. Repeat with vanilla extract. Add more water if needed to bring the dough together.
• Form dough into 2 separate, equal-sized discs and cover in plastic wrap. Let rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using.

CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add 3 tablespoons cold water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Roll out dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned., Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and lemon zest. Gradually stir in lemon juice just until combined. Pour into the crust., For meringue, in a saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in cold water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is clear. Transfer to a bowl; cool., Beat egg whites and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat in cornstarch mixture on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edge to crust., Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

PASTRY DOUGH (MADAM BENOIT'S NO FAIL LEMON TANG PASTRY)

Steps:

• A LARGE MIXING BOWL: 5 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon soda Use a whisk to mix.
• Cut in one pound of lard.
• Mix to resemble coarse crumbs.
• IN A ONE CUP MEASURING CUP: Add 1 whole egg 3 tablespoons lemon juice Mix with a fork and add enough water to fill the one cup measuring cup.
• Add the cup of liquid to the dry ingredients and mix until dough forms into a ball.
• (at this point I form into balls using approximate amount for the size pie plate I'm using and place into a plastic bag until ready to roll.) NOTE: Rolling the dough between two sheets of wax paper makes for a nice even sheet of pastry.
• This will make 3-4 double pies-- depending on what size pie pans you are using.

EXTRA-LEMONY MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: On a lightly floured surface, and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll pie dough into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan (not deep dish); fold the edges over and crimp them together. Prick crust all over with a fork and chill in freezer for 30 minutes until frozen. (Cover with plastic if freezing for longer than a few hours. Well wrapped, it will last in the freezer for up to a month.)
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line chilled crust with foil, fill with pie weights or dried rice, then bake for 12 minutes. Remove foil, lower oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake until pale golden, 10 to 16 minutes longer. Transfer to a rack to cool while you prepare the filling. (Leave the oven on if baking the pie immediately.)
• In a heavy saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, egg and sugar. Stir in lemon juice, zest and salt. Add pieces of butter and cook, whisking constantly, over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon, about 7 to 9 minutes. An instant-read thermometer should register 180 degrees. Inspect the filling: If you think there are any coagulated bits of egg, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl.
• Pour filling into pie crust and return to the oven to bake until filling is set (it should jiggle only slightly in the center), about 18 to 40 minutes. (Pies prepared in glass and ceramic dishes can take much longer to bake than those prepared in metal dishes. Don't give up: The curd will eventually set.) Remove pie from oven and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees for baking the meringue.
• As the filling bakes, make the meringue: Fill a medium pot with 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Using a large metal bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, vanilla, cream of tartar and salt. Set the bowl with the egg white mixture into the pot above the water, and whisk constantly by hand until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm (160 degrees on an instant thermometer) and has thickened and lightened in color, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.
• Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-low speed and gradually increase speed to high, until mixture is thick and fluffy, and stiff peaks form, about 5 to 8 minutes. Be careful not to overbeat.
• Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in lemon zest. Mix with care to not deflate meringue: A few strokes should do it. Spread the meringue over the hot filling, making sure it meets the edges of the crust. Using a knife or spatula, swirl in a design, if you like, and bake until lightly browned, about 8 to 12 minutes.
• Allow to cool completely and top with more lemon zest before serving.

LEMON-NUTMEG PIE CRUST DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in processor. Add butter and shortening and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 T water and 1 T lemon juice and process until moist clumps form. Gather into 2 balls, flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 min. Can wait 3 days, or freeze 2 weeks.

APPLE, CRANBERRY, CURRANT PIE W/ LEMON-NUTMEG CRUST

Steps:

• Crust: Combine flour, sugar, salt, zest, nutmeg & butter in food processor. Blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add lemon juice as a stream with motor on & process until moist clumps form. Gather dough into 2 balls, flatten into disks. Wrap each disc in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minute.
• Position oven rack in lowest third of oven & preheat to 400°F Roll out 1 disc of dough to 12 inch round and place in 9 in pie dish. Trim to leave 1/2 inch overhang.
• Pie Filling: Combine all ingredients (except 1 T sugar) and spoon into crust.
• Roll out 2nd dough disk to 12-inch round and place atop pie filling. Crimp edges decoratively. Cut several slits to allow steam to escape. Sprinkle w/ remaining sugar.
• Bake until crust is golden brown, apples are tender and juices bubble thickly, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Cool 20 minutes before serving.