Light Tart Crust Food

LIGHTER PIE CRUST FROM COOKING LIGHT MAGAZINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine 1/4C flour, water and vinegar with a whisk until well blended.
• Combine 3/4C flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl; cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add the water slurry, and toss with a fork until flour mixture is moist.
• Gently press mixture into a 4" circle on heavy-duty plastic wrap; cover with add'l wrap and roll dough into a 12" circle. Freeze for 10 minutes.
• Remove 1 sheet of plastic wrap; let stand for 1 minute or until dough is pliable. Fit dough, plastic-wrap side up, into a 9" pie plate or tart pan. Fold edges under or flute decoratively. Line bottom of dough with a piece of foil; arrange pie weights on foil.
• Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes or until edge is lightly browned. Remove pie weights and foil. Cool on a wire rack.

LIGHT TART CRUST

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and sugar.
• Using a fork, cut in the butter until it resembles coarse meal and then add beaten egg until all combines together.
• Flatten into disk and chill for around an hour.
• Roll out and flatten into greased 9 1/2" cake pan lined with parchment paper on the bottom. (*I don't have a tart pan so you can try a tart pan if you like).
• Gently poke holes on bottom with a fork, line inside with foil, and fill with baking weights (beans, rice, whatever works).
• Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes w/ foil.
• Remove foil and then bake for 8 more minutes.

LIGHT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl or food processor. Add margarine and process, or mix together with your fingers, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cold water, one tablespoon at a time, and process, or mix, until a manageable dough forms; turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 12-inch circle.
• Press dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan or removable-bottom tart pan; prick the bottom all over with a fork, cover dough with foil and fill with dried beans or rice.
• Bake 10 minutes. Remove beans and foil and bake until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes more. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. Yields 8 slices per crust.

THE BEST PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles fine cornmeal. Pour in water slowly; knead dough into a firm ball.
• Pour in additional water as needed if dough is too dry or additional flour if too moist. Divide batter into equal halves. Roll out dough halves into rounds on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin to desired thickness.
• Press one round into the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. Use the other round as a top crust or for a separate bottom crust. Bake according to desired filling instructions.

LIGHT-AND-FLAKY PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt in large mixing bowl. Pour oil and water into measuring cup - do not stir. Add liquids all at once to flour mixture. Stir with a fork until just moistened. Divide dough into 2 balls.
• Roll each ball between 2 sheets of wax paper, forming a circle approximately 12 inches/30cm in diameter. Note: Dampen work area by wiping with a wet dish cloth to prevent wax paper from slipping. Remove top sheet of wax paper; place hand under bottom sheet of paper and invert pastry into a pie plate, paper side up. Carefully remove paper while gently fitting pastry into plate (take care not to stretch pastry, as this will cause shrinkage). Trim pastry 1/2 inch/1cm beyond edge of pie plate; fold extra pastry under (even with edge of pie plate). Flute edge using tines of fork or by creating a scallop pattern using fingers.
• Bake as directed in pie recipe. If recipe calls for a baked pie crust, generously prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork. Bake at 400°F/200°C for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack before filling.