Old Fashioned Pie Crust Makes 3 Crusts Food

OLD-FASHIONED PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add shortening, salt and flour. Using a pastry cutter, cut the dry ingredients into the shortening until the dough forms small pea-sized bits.
• Add water a tbsp at a time, cutting (with pastry cutter) after each addition. Using hands, blend dough until it holds together. Form two balls.
• Flour counter top or pastry board and rolling pin well. With first dough ball, form a large hockey puck shape. Turn over and roll out with rolling pin, rolling from center to edges to form a circle.
• Carefully place crust in pie pan. Repeat with second crust (or reserve for top crust of a two-crust pie.)

OLD FASHIONED FLAKY PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Whisk flour with salt in a bowl; use a fork to stir in vegetable oil. Mix in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, before adding more water. Gather dough into a ball, divide in half, and roll out on a floured work surface.

RUTH'S GRANDMA'S PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, shortening, sugar, and salt. Blend together with a pastry cutter until crumbly.
• In a small bowl, mix egg with water. Blend into flour mixture. Chill in refrigerator until ready to use.

OIL-BASED PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Use a fork to mix. Mix flour and salt.
• Stir in oil until clumps are pea-sized.
• Add cold water and stir. Ok if it's gluey or clumpy.
• Roll slightly more than half out between waxed paper sheets to the size needed. Edge to edge wide.
• Peel paper off one side and replace, flip and peel off other side.
• Use bottom sheet of waxed paper to hold crust, Flip into pie plate. Very delicate - can't do much arranging.
• Patch holes or tears, Trim edge.
• Roll out rest of crust including trimmed pieces.
• Place on top of filling in crust, crimp edges, cut steam holes.

OATMEAL PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Mix together all dry ingredients.
• Blend in shortening with pastry cutter of two forks until mixture resembles coarse meal; shortening should be coated with the flour mixture.
• Make a well in the middle of this mixture; add water until moistened.
• Mix with a fork.
• Dough will not be completely moist; some dry spots will be evident.
• Pull mixture together with your hands until it holds shape.
• Cover and chill 1 hour or overnight.
• Roll out as you would any pie crust.
• Cook according to your pie recipe.
• This makes a super crust for my Old Fashioned Apple Pie, and is the crust I specify in that recipe.
• Makes 1- 9 or 10 inch double pie crusts.

FRIED PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into circles. Make circles at least 4". Fill pastry with 1 heaping tablespoon prepared fruit. Fold circle in half, seal edges with fork if you don't have plastic utensils for making pot stickers and the like. Fry until golden brown in about 1/4" canola oil. Great served hot or cold.