Southern Fried Pie Dough Food

THE BEST ALL-BUTTER PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor to combine. Add the butter and process until the largest pieces of butter are pea-size. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Combine the vodka, vinegar and 4 tablespoons of the ice water in a small bowl. Drizzle the wet ingredients over the dough, then mix with a fork until shaggy pieces form. Knead the dough in the bowl with your hands a couple of times until it comes together (it will look quite dry, which is fine). Transfer the large clumps of dough to a work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon ice water over any remaining smaller bits of dough in the bowl and knead again to bring it together. If the remaining dough is still too dry to come together, add more ice water in 1-tablespoon increments. Add to the dough on the work surface and press together into a single mass, incorporating any dry bits. Pat the dough into a 1-inch-thick block.
• Divide the block into 4 pieces with a bench scraper or knife. Stack the pieces on top of one another, tucking any unincorporated dry bits in between the layers. Flatten the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick block. Repeat this process (cutting, stacking and flattening) 3 more times; this creates layers of butter in the dough that produce a wonderfully flaky crust.
• Divide the dough in half and form into 1-inch-thick discs; wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 3 hours and preferably overnight. The dough can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 3 months.

FRIED PIES

Steps:

• To make the pastry, mix together the flour, granulated sugar and salt. Cut in 1 cup of the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 1 of the eggs and the buttermilk and stir until it just comes together. Add a little more buttermilk if needed. Form it into a ball and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• To make the pies, roll the pastry out into a large square. Trim the edges to make a rectangle. Cut into 8 to 10 long rectangles, using a butter knife.
• Spoon a tablespoon or so of filling into the top half of one of the rectangles.
• Use the remaining beaten eggs to seal the edges by folding the bottom half of the rectangle over the top. Then crimp the edges shut with a fork. Repeat with the other pies, filling half with apple pie filling and half with cherry pie filling.
• Heat shortening in a medium, deep saucepan over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F. Fry the pies until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove and immediately drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

EASY FRIED PIES

Steps:

• Place dried fruit in a pot and add water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer until fruit is tender. Add other ingredients and mash together with a potato masher or fork. Set aside while dough is prepared.
• Roll each biscuit out on a floured surface into a five or six inch circle. Place two tablespoons of filling in each. Wet the edges and fold over, crimping with a fork.
• Cook in oil which has been heated on medium heat, until browned on both sides, turning as needed. Remove to paper towel lined plate.

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.

MAMA'S FRIED PIES

Steps:

• Cook fruit in water until tender. Drain and mix with sugar and margarine. Mash well. Refrigerate overnight if possible. Roll out homemade piecrust dough and cut into saucer-sized circles.
• Spoon fruit onto circles and fold over into crescent shapes, then close the edges completely with a fork. Fry until golden brown. Place fried pies on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• Variations: For baked pies, place crescents on a lightly-greased baking sheet in a 400 degree oven until golden brown.
• For apple pies, use dried apples and add apple pie spice (or nutmeg and cinnamon) and vanilla to taste.
• For prune pies, use dry, pitted prunes and add vanilla to taste.
• Place the flour and a dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Add the shortening and cut it in with a pastry blender or use your hands, as I do. Add the water, a teaspoon at a time, kneading until the dough is smooth.

FRIED PIE PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in crisco with a pastry knife until it resembles coarse crumbs.
• 2. Combine beaten egg and ice water. Sprinkle over flour. Add in white vinegar. Mix until it all comes together to form a ball. Add more water if its looks too dry. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• 3. Roll out dough into 6 inch rounds. Fill with favorite fruit filling, wet edges with a little water, fold over and crimp together with a fork.
• 4. Deep fry for 2-4 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

FRIED PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine egg and water, and sprinkle lightly over flour mixture. Add vinegar, and lightly stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape into a ball.
• Wrap dough in wax paper. Chill for at least one hour. Use as directed in any fried pie recipe.

HOT POCKET AND FRIED PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder, together.
• Cut in shortening.
• Pour the milk into the flour mixture all at once.
• Mix quickly and add additional milk if needed to combine all dry spots or flour if it is to sticky.
• Lightly knead it to make a thick dough.
• Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
• Cut the dough into 12 equal portions.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough pieces into 5 or 6 inch circles.
• Put two or three tablespoons of filling of your choice in the center of each round, moisten edges with milk to ensure seal.
• Fold over and crimp the edges with a fork.
• Fry a few at a time without crowding, in the hot oil, until golden brown.
• Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
• Notes: Although this dough can be used to make homemade"hot pockets" the filling should be completely done before enclosing it in the dough.
• The dough will cook too fast to get the insides done.
• I find it best to place paper towels on a wire rack so the pies remain light and crisp and don't get soggy from the steam.
• If you are using the dough for fried pies, it will use one 21 ounce can @ approximately two tablespoons per pie.
• Pies should be sprinkled as soon as they are removed from oil so the sugar will stick.
• (Sugar and cinnamon mix is great on apple pies.).

DOUGH FOR FRIED PIES

Steps:

• Mix and place in refrigerator till ready to use.
• When ready to use, roll out pie dough.
• Use a small bowl to cut out circles.
• Put 2 or more tablespoons of fruit in the middle of the circle; fold over and press edges together.
• Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or till browned.