PIE CRUST WOES

I was quite happy using pie crust mixes until recently when they resulted in tough crusts. Is this the result of user error, or did the manufacturer change the formula? We may never know.

“Why didn’t your mother teach you to make a pie crust,” asked Mike pointedly. “Didn’t you ask her to?”

This question evokes defensiveness. My dad was proud of my mother’s flaky pie crusts, and she was reticent to allow my experimentation when she knew her efforts would yield a tasty result and compliments. And actually, we seldom had pie because Mother tried valiantly to control my weight through diet. After she came face-to-face with the caloric value of pie, dessert was usually canned fruit or iced milk.

AND – We were busy people. With the passage of time, we forget the duties of day-to-day life in a bygone era, but we had plenty to do.

Mother tried to teach me to make pie crust once or twice, but I think making the successful crust is a matter of feel, and with those few efforts, I didn’t get the touch. That whole “until dough resembles small peas” thing eludes me. My dough never resembles what I would call “small peas.” Mine goes from clumpy to mealy in a flash.

But if I’m ever going to learn to make pie crust, now is the time. On Presidents’ Day, I made a cherry pie using a recipe for the pastry from bettycrocker.com:

2 cups of flour

2/3 cup of shortening

½ tsp of salt

4-6 tbsp of water

Long story short, I used 4 tablespoons of ice water, and I suppose I should have added a little more. The dough was crumbly, as opposed to flaky, and difficult to work with. The texture was grainy rather than smooth, and experts say that means I overworked it. At least it wasn’t tough, and I guess it tasted okay.

I suppose I’ll try again. Nothing will take the place of practice, but it’s just not something one should do every day, not even every week. I could just give up this effort because I don’t even really like pie crust, especially that crimped part at the edge. I give mine to Bess. But some people, like Bess, think that’s the best part. However, we have a few favorite pies, and I don’t think my family wants me to entirely stop making them.

“What did you teach your children about cooking,” asks Mike.

Well, I’ve always been proud of the fact that they left home knowing how to fix food for themselves. I’m also proud that all three of them are interested in cooking and nutrition and continually expand their skills. It’s important to eat balanced, nutritious meals at home as opposed to constantly eating out. But I admit that I didn’t teach them to make pie crusts. After all, you can hardly teach someone a skill that you haven’t mastered yourself. KW