Aunt Millies Pie Crust Recipes

PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt to combine. Add the butter, tossing the cubes through the flour until the pieces are separated from one another and each piece is coated.
• Cut the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your palms or fingertips, flattening the cubes into big shards and continuing to toss them in the flour to recoat the shards. The size of the butter will vary depending on the kind of pie you're making: For fruit pies, stop when the butter pieces are about the size of walnut halves. For custard pies, stop when the butter pieces are smaller, about the size of peas.
• Make a well in the center of the mixture. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and mix it in by tossing the flour in the bowl. (This tossing movement lets the moisture incorporate without allowing too much gluten formation.)
• Continue to add ice water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until the dough begins to come together. As it comes together, fold it over itself a few times to make sure it's homogenous. The dough should hold together without noticeable cracks (a sign of underhydration), but it should not be wet or tacky to the touch (a sign of overhydration).
• Form the dough into a disk about 1-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using, and up to 2 days. (It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, then thawed overnight before using.)

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.

AUNT MILLIE'S PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Mix and roll out between sheets of waxed paper or saran. I added a teaspoon of gin (vodka I've read).

MILLIE'S AUGUST PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Fit piecrust into a 9 inch pie dish. Place fruit in pie crust and spread evenly.
• Combine half and half, egg, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl and mix until well blended. Pour over fruit.
• Bake for approximately 50 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely before serving.

AUNT JENNIE'S PIE CRUST (WITH OIL)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Mix together oil and milk.
• Mix dry ingredients, whisk to combine.
• Mix all ingredients well to form a soft dough.
• Dampen table and put a strip of wax paper over the damp area.
• Take 1/2 of dough and place another piece of waxed paper over the dough.
• Roll to desired size and place in pie plate. Roll the second crust.
• Add desired fruit filling, canned or fresh.
• Top with second pie crust. Brush lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
• Make a few small slits with a knife. Trim off excess dough. cover with foil to prevent burning.
• Bake for 20 minutes at 425°, remove foil.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400° and bake 20 minutes longer, until crust is golden brown.

CLASSIC BUTTER PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed., Shape dough into a disk for a single-crust pie; for a double-crust pie, divide dough in 2 with 1 piece slightly larger than the other. Shape into 2 disks. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight., On a lightly floured surface, roll 1 disk of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. , For a single-crust pie: Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Fill or bake according to recipe directions., For a double-crust pie: Add filling to pie. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top. Bake according to recipe directions.