Grandmas Great Depression Era Pie Crust Recipes

Steps:

• Sift flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Cut in half of the shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles cornmeal.
• Cut in the remaining shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles small peas.
• Sprinkle in the water 1 tablespoon at a time, gently tossing the mixture with a fork after each addition. (Do not be afraid to add more water or flour).
• Gather dough with hands and press into a ball. (For double crust divide into two balls).
• Roll out on floured surface and put into a pie pan.
• Bake according to whatever pie recipe you're using.
• NOTE: I have never pre-baked this pie crust, so I can offer no guidance on how that would work. Most generally I use this for pumpkin pies around Thanksgiving, and the crust is baked together with the pumpkin filling for 10 minutes at 425 degrees and then about an hour at 350 degrees. Use your own judgment for baking the crust.
• NOTE: To Double:.
• - 2 cups all purpose flour.
• - 1 teaspoon salt.
• - 3/4 cup shortening, divided in half.
• - 5 tablespoons COLD water.

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.

Steps:

• In large bowl mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening with two butter knifes.
• In separate bowl, mix together egg, vinegar, and water. Drizzle wet mixture into dry mixture, cutting it in.
• Roll out dough, and fit into two 9 inch pie pans.
• Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 12 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Whisk together sugar, flour and nutmeg; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll one-third of pie dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; cut into 2x1-in. strips. Layer a deep 12-in. enamel-coated cast-iron skillet or ovenproof casserole with half the strips; sprinkle with half the sugar mixture. Dot with half the butter. Repeat sugar and butter layers., Roll remaining two-thirds of pie dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle. Place over filling, pressing against sides of skillet or casserole. Cut a slit in top. Add vinegar to hot water; slowly pour vinegar mixture through slit. Liquid may bubble up through crust; this is normal. To catch spills, line an oven rack with foil., Bake until crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Cover edge loosely with foil during the last 15-20 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove foil. Cool on a wire rack.