Two Crusted Pie Dough Food

DOUBLE-CRUST PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Place flour and salt in a food processor. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some blueberry-size clumps.
• Beat together egg, ice water, and vinegar in a small bowl. Add to flour mixture and pulse just until incorporated, about 10 times more. Squeeze a small amount of dough to make sure it holds together. If dough is too dry, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap, forming each into 1 disk. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.

CLASSIC LARD TWO-CRUST PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in the lard with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, blending gently with a fork or pastry blender until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the sides of the bowl. Divide the dough in half and shape flattened rounds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

CLASSIC TWO CRUST APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Peel, core and thinly and thickly slice the apples; toss with lemon juice if using.
• Combine and mix apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg; pour into crust-lined pie plate; dot with butter.
• Place top crust, seal and vent; cover edges of crust with narrow band of aluminum foil, shiny side out.
• Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes; reduce temperature to 375°F and bake another 30-40 minutes until filling is bubbling and crust is nicely browned.
• If necessary remove foil last 10 minutes to brown edges.

ALL-BUTTER DOUBLE PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Use a bench scraper to cut butter into ½-inch cubes. (If butter begins to "sweat," dust with flour.) In a large, flat-bottomed bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter cubes and toss to coat with the flour mixture. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour; do not smash or smear the butter. Scrape butter off the pastry blender during the mixing process and continue mixing. (If butter is softening too fast, put the bowl in the refrigerator until butter firms up, 2-5 minutes.) Continue cutting, working quickly, until butter is broken down and looks like a coarse crumble with only a few larger pieces.
• Combine vinegar with water and ice; you'll use 10-12 tablespoons of this liquid in the pie dough. Begin by sprinkling 4 tablespoons of liquid over the flour mixture; use a bench scraper or your hands to incorporate until the mixture begins to come together. Sprinkle in 4 more tablespoons of liquid and continue the mixing process. Squeeze a fistful of dough: if it holds, like wet sand, it's ready. If it falls apart, add 1-2 more tablespoons of liquid at a time, squeezing the dough to check if it holds. Bring all the dough together, sprinkling dry bits with more small drops of liquid as necessary; dough will look shaggy. Knead in the bowl just until incorporated.
• Turn dough onto a work surface and use a bench scraper to divide dough into two equal pieces. (Note: If you're making the Blueberry Slab Pie, do not divide the dough; shape it into one large, flat disk.) Shape into flat disks and wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight. Dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and frozen up to 1 month, tightly wrapped. (Note: If you're making the Peach Skillet Pie, stop here; you'll begin that lesson with two chilled disks of dough.)
• Generously grease pie dish with softened butter. Dust a work surface and a rolling pin with flour. Place one chilled pie disk on the work surface and lightly dust it with flour. (Reserve the other disk to use as a top crust for the Salted Caramel Apple Pie or Peach Skillet Pie, or to line a tart pan for the Farmer Cheese and Thyme Pie.)Roll dough by starting at the center and lightly pressing down with the rolling pin to flatten slightly. Rotate the dough and repeat, pressing down so it's evenly flattened all around, about ⅛-inch thick. Then roll outward to make a circle, rotating the dough a quarter-turn at a time to keep it even. (If dough is softening too fast, chill in the refrigerator until firm, 2-5 minutes.) Roll the dough until it's about 2-3 inches larger than the pie dish, all the way around. Use a pizza wheel to trim away the rough edges. (Save the scraps to make crust cookies!)
• Overturn pie dish onto the center of the dough circle, then remove and place it right side up on your work surface. Use the light indentation created by the rim as a guide for gently positioning dough into the center of the dish. (If dough is softening too fast, put it back into the refrigerator until it firms up, 2-5 minutes.) Fit dough gently into dish, being careful not to stretch it. Begin crimping the edge by using your fingers to roll the dough firmly so it rests on top of the rim. Crimp by using your index finger and thumb on one hand to squeeze a letter "C" into the dough rim. (Lightly flour your fingers if the dough is sticking.) Repeat, crimping the entire pie and making sure the final fluted crust sits directly on top of the pan's rim. Chill until it is ready to be filled and baked.

TWO CRUST PIE, 9 INCHES

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt. Cut in the shortening until particles are the size of peas.
• Sprinkle with the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all the flour is moistened and the pastry almost cleans the side of the bowl. Additional water can be used if necessary.
• Divide pastry into 2 equal parts. Gather each portion into a ball.
• Working with one ball at a time: flatten into a disk on a lightly floured surface. I place my pastry between sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper - which makes it easier to lift onto the pie pan.
• Roll the pastry into a circle that is 2 inches larger around than the inverted pie pan. Carefully ease the pastry into the pan and press it firmly against the bottom and sides.
• Pour in the pie filling and then cover with the remaining pastry. Remember to cut slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake according to pie recipe directions.

DOUBLE-CRUST CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Make the filling: In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and carrots and cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Once melted, stir in the flour. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it just starts to turn golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the bay leaf, rosemary and thyme. Adjust the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Stir in the cream, chicken and peas and return to a simmer. Simmer for 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove the mixture from the heat. Stir in the salt and pepper. Ideally, cool it completely. Remove and discard the bay leaf, and stir in the parsley. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired.
• Meanwhile, prepare the crust: Have a 10-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet ready. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the pie crust to a thickness of about 1/4 inch, making a circle about 3 inches wider all around than the skillet. Gently transfer the dough to the skillet, lining the bottom and easing it up the sides, allowing any excess to drape over the edge of the pan (aim for about 1 inch excess dough all the way around the pan). Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• While the bottom crust is chilling, roll out the remaining dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick. Gently transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet, then use a pastry wheel to cut it into 1 1/2- to 2-inch wide strips. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Pour the cooled filling into the chilled bottom crust and spread evenly. Remove the chilled dough strips from the fridge. Lay strips over the filling, leaving almost no space between them. When the pie is covered, rotate the pan and pull back every other strip of dough, then weave in a fresh strip to create a lattice. Lay the strips back over the new piece of dough, the repeat the process - this time pulling back all the pieces of dough that didn't get moved the first time. Continue until the entire pie is latticed.
• Press the dough together at the edges all the way around the pie; use scissors to trim away any excess dough, then fold the bottom crust up and over the lattice. Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges to help seal it. Use a floured fork to press around the edges to seal the dough together and crimp the crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and place a rack in the lower third of the oven. Brush the egg mixture over the top of the pie and sprinkle it with Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes; lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and continue baking until the crust is deeply golden brown (the filling may bubble through the top crust a bit), 40 to 50 minutes more.

SINGLE-CRUST FOOD PROCESSOR PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• Combine the flour, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl. Scatter the fat on a large flour-dusted plate. Measure the vinegar into a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Add just enough cold water to equal a scant ⅓ cup. Refrigerate everything for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer the dry ingredients to a food processor. Add all of the fat, then pulse the machine six or seven times, until the pieces of fat are roughly the size of small peas.
• Pour the vinegar-water mixture through the feed tube in a 7- or 8-second stream, pulsing the machine as you add it. Stop pulsing when the mixture is just starting to form larger clumps.
• Turn the dough out onto your work surface and pack it into a ball. Put the dough on a sheet of plastic wrap and flatten it into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap the disk and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling.

TWO CRUST PIE, 10 INCHES

Steps:

• Mix flour and salt. Cut in the shortening until particles are the size of peas.
• Sprinkle with the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until all the flour is moistened and the pastry almost cleans the side of the bowl. Additional water can be used if necessary.
• Divide pastry into 2 equal parts. Gather each portion into a ball.
• Working with one ball at a time: flatten into a disk on a lightly floured surface. I place my pastry between sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper - which makes it easier to lift onto the pie pan.
• Roll the pastry into a circle that is 2 inches larger around than the inverted pie pan. Carefully ease the pastry into the pan and press it firmly against the bottom and sides.
• Pour in the pie filling and then cover with the remaining pastry. Remember to cut slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Bake according to pie recipe directions.

PASTRY FOR DOUBLE PIE-CRUST

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide dough in half so one ball is slightly larger than the other., Roll out the larger ball to fit a 9-in. or 10-in. pie plate. Transfer pastry to pie plate. Trim pastry with even with edge of plate. Pour desired filling into crust. , Roll out second ball; cut slits in pastry. Position over filling. Trim pastry to 1 in. beyond edge of pie plate. Fold top crust over bottom crust. Flute edges. Bake according to recipe directions.

PIE DOUGH

Steps:

• 1. Stir together the flour, butter, and salt to blend. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut the butter into the flour. For pies with liquid fillings (like custard or cooked-fruit fillings that are thickened with cornstarch or tapioca), the bits of fat should be evenly small, and the mixture should resemble a coarse meal. This will result in a mealy piecrust, which is less likely to become soggy as the pie bakes. For pies to be filled with fruit or another non-liquid filling, leave some larger bits of fat, about the size of small walnut pieces, for a crisp and flaky texture in the baked crust.
• 2. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and add the water all at once. Gently toss the mixture together until just blended and the flour is moistened (the mixture will look shaggy and loose).
• 3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead it together, combining parts of the mixture that are wetter with those that are drier. If preparing a double-crust recipe, divide the dough in half. Shape the dough into a 1-inch-thick disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill until firm, about 20 minutes. NOTE: At this point, the dough is ready to be used. It can be stored, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• 4. Working with one disk at a time, unwrap the dough, place it on a lightly floured work surface, and scatter a little flour over it. Alternatively, place the dough between sheets of parchment or waxed paper. Roll out the dough for the bottom crust of a pie into an even round, about 13 inches in diameter (for a 9-inch pie pan). It should be about 1/8 inch thick.
• 5. Fold the dough in half or roll it loosely around the rolling pin, and gently lift and position it over the pan. Unfold or unroll the dough and ease it into the pan without stretching, making sure that the pan sides and the rim are evenly covered. Press the dough gently against the sides and bottom. Trim the overhang to 1 inch.
• 6. For a single-crust pie, tuck the dough overhang under itself and flute the edges. Fill and bake the pie according to the recipe directions. For a double-crust pie, roll out the second piece of dough into an 11-inch round (for a 9-inch pie pan), and then cut vents in it. Fill and finish the pie according to the recipe directions.

DOUBLE-CRUST STRAWBERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar, flour and cinnamon; add strawberries and toss to coat., On a lightly floured surface, roll half of dough into a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust even with rim. Add filling., Roll remaining dough into a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Brush with milk; sprinkle with remaining sugar., Bake 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cover edge loosely with foil during the last 20 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning., Remove foil. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour before serving.