Never Fail Pie Crust and Fillings

By Wendy Kennedy

Are you afraid to try baking a pie because it's too difficult? Have you tried several times and not been happy with the results? Would you really like to bake homemade pies? Give this pie crust recipe a try.

If you're short of time pick up a prepared crust and make your own filling rather than buying a pie. Your guests will think you baked it from scratch :-)

~ Never Fail Pie Crust ~

1 lb. room temperature shortening

5 cups flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 egg cold water

1 tsp. vinegar

Cut shortening into flour, baking powder & salt with a pastry cutter. Continue until pieces are the size of large rice. Whisk egg in a clear measuring cup. Fill to 3/4 cup mark with cold water. Whisk again. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Mix with a fork and then with your hands. Don't overwork (work until it all sticks together). Makes enough crust for 3 - 4 double crust pies. Divide dough into 6 or 8 balls. Freezes well wrapped in plastic wrap.

For a filled shell:

Flour countertop. Roll rolling pin in flour. Flatten ball of pie crust dough and then roll with rolling pin. Start in the center & roll outwards. Make a circle large enough to fit in your pie plate. Fold in 1/2 and lift into plate. Fit into plate. With a knife cut around pie plate lip to trim off excess pie crust. You can add this to the dough you roll for another crust. Fill shell with filling & if you need a top crust roll it out. Lay top crust on top. Trim around edges with a knife. Use a fork & press edges together all the way around. Cut 4 slits in the top of the crust, starting about 1/2" from the center of the pie.

For a sugary top sprinkle white granulated sugar on top before baking.

For a shiny top use a pastry brush and brush milk or watered down beaten egg on top before baking.

Baked Pie Shell:

Line tin loosely with crust. Trim edges. With a fork poke many holes in the crust. Bake @ 400F for 10 - 12 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Cool before filling.

~ Apple Pie ~

6 - 7 cups peeled, sliced apples (use tart, tasty apples)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

1 1/2 tbs.. butter or margarine

Put a crust in your pie plate. Heap with sliced apples. Sprinkle brown sugar & cinnamon evenly over top. Dot with butter/margarine. Put on top crust. Bake @ 425F for 50 - 60 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and apples are soft.

~ Pecan Pie ~

3 eggs

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup melted butter/margarine

1 cup dark corn syrup

1 cup pecan halves

Beat together with rotary beater. Add pecans. Pour into pastry lined pie plate. Bake @ 375F for 40 - 50 minutes or until filling is set and pastry is nicely browned.

~ Pumpkin Pie ~

1 3/4 cups mashed, cooked pumpkin

1/2 tsp. salt

1 3/4 cups milk

3 eggs

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. white sugar

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. cloves

Mix with electric beater and pour into pastry lined pie plate. Bake @ 425F for 45 - 55 minutes or until a silver knife can be poked in 1" from edge and come out clean. Cool. Serve with whipped cream.

To cook pumpkin: Cut pumpkin in half. Scoop out seeds and discard or save to season & bake. Place pumpkin cut side down in a baking dish with 1/4" water in it. Bake at 375F until pumpkin is soft. Scoop pumpkin out of skin. Cooked pumpkin can be frozen in plastic freezer bags.

Wendy owns and operates http://www.CanadianCountryGifts.com

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