How to make Foolproof Pie Crust:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups shortening (crisco or lard)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 egg
1/2 cup very cold water
Add flour, shortening, sugar, and salt to a large bowl.
Mix flour and shortening with a pastry cutter until it looks nice and crumbly.
In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, egg, and water.
Add to the flour mixture, stirring in till well-moistened.
Stick your hands in there.
And shape it into a great, big, wonderful ball of pastry dough. (Don’t overhandle.)
Divide the dough into four equal-size balls.
Wrap each ball with plastic and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before using. Or, if you want to use it faster, stick it in the freezer for 5 minutes. (You can keep this pie crust dough in the refrigerator for a week before using, or in the freezer for a couple of months. It freezes well–place dough balls in sealed freezer bags for long storage.)
To use, sprinkle some flour on waxed paper. Sprinkle some more flour on top then roll out, adding more flour if necessary to keep from sticking to your rolling pin. Place in a greased pie pan. I like to just up-end the rolled crust right off the waxed paper on top of the pie pan. Peel off the paper then crimp the edges.
For double-crust pie, repeat the same procedure, venting the top.
This recipe make two 9-inch double-crust pies or four single-crust pies. If you’re planning to use large deep-dish pie pans, you may want to divide the dough into thirds instead of fourths. This is a great pastry for tarts and pot pies, etc, as well as standard dessert pies.
Apple Pie:
6-8 apples, peeled and sliced (depends on the apple size, you want it heaped up)
2/3 of a cup sugar
1/3 of a cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
A pinch of salt and a dash of ground cloves enhance the cinnamon flavor (don't have to use if you don't have)
Mix all together. Put into bottom crust. Top with crust, cut vent holes into top crust.
Cook in microwave on high until all bubbly. Put into a 350 oven until crust is browned to your liking. (The microwave cooks the apples and tenderized crust, the oven just browns the crust)
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