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ChefBilly’s


Thanksgiving

Feasts

 

Perfect Turkey

Gravy

Mashed Idaho Potatoes

Grandmother Jean's Stuffing

Aunt Helen's Meat Stuffing

Baked Spiral Sliced Ham

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Pumpkin Pie

 

For people who rarely cook, Thanksgiving is the one day they might actually try to prepare a holiday meal.  Almost anyone would like to proudly present a home-cooked Thanksgiving feast to family and friends, at least once.  For people who cook regularly and know the joy of holiday entertaining, Thanksgiving is often the one day not to be missed.  They would rather be in the kitchen, cooking with love, than dining as somebody’s guest.

 

I knew a woman, a busy psychiatrist, who never had time to cook for herself, but reserved a couple of days every year to prepare a huge Thanksgiving dinner for others.  It was the one time each year she shined as a chef, and the care, love, and tradition with which she approached the holiday expressed her great joy.

 

I think of two aspects of Thanksgiving, home and tradition.  No other holiday, with the possible exception of Christmas, centers so much on the family and the home where the family gathers around the table.  Even families that rarely get together are likely to meet at this time, petty differences aside.  If, as has been said, “the home is the heart of civilization,” our coming together to give thanks shows our communal unity and purpose.

 

Most of us have warm childhood memories of those “first Thanksgivings”, the aromas from the kitchen, the relatives at the door.  Traditions begun at that time are likely to stick.  The method the turkey is roasted, the way the stuffing is made, the recipe for the pie, all are likely to remain unvaried for years to come.   

 

Yet Thanksgiving is also flexible, a “movable feast”.  The memories and traditions we carry inside of us, through various stages of life, can be expressed in different ways and places.  Many of us might find ourselves away from home for the holiday, but share a special meal with friends or even with strangers.  On my travels, which occasionally took me away for Thanksgiving, “home” was sometimes a college dormitory, hotel room, or cabin in the woods.  But I always made or found a way to share a moment of Thanksgiving with others.  Indeed, some of those times were the most memorable of all.  On one such occasion, I made Thanksgiving dinner for a small group of college students who lived too far away to go home for the holiday.  Another time, I cooked a turkey over a camp fire, which though not gourmet, was great fun.  Some Thanksgivings by necessity must even be celebrated alone.  But celebrate, and show your kindness to yourself.

 

For those whose traditions are flexible or just beginning, I offer some of my own.  These are some of my oldest recipes.  The ones for stuffing and pumpkin pie have remained unchanged for over 50 years.  My turkey recipe, however, has undergone constant revision with changing times, and the one I give here is, at present, my best.

 

 

The Thanksgiving menu need not be limited to turkey.  To be traditional yet flexible, we should keep in mind that some people do not like turkey and some others are vegetarians.  I knew a gentleman who always made roast beef for Thanksgiving because that was what he liked, and good for him.  For a large party, I always put a ham on the sideboard for variety.  For vegetarians, a glorious squash, baked and stuffed with nuts, fruits, and grains, is a good choice.

 

That said, I present the traditional menu.

 

 

Thanksgiving Dinner

 

Hors d’oeuvres

Cornucopia of fruit

Nuts

Paté de foie gras

Homemade bread

Olives

Cheese

Wines

 

Soup

Lobster bisque

 

Entrées

Oysters on the half shell

                     Cheese and Spinach Pie

 

Salad

                         ChefBilly’s Salad

 

Main Course

Roast Turkey with Sage Dressing

Baked Ham with Candied Sweet Potatoes

Green beans

Cranberry sauce

Mashed Idaho Potatoes

Gravy

Sweet peas

Corn

Homemade dinner rolls

 

Dessert

Pumpkin Pie

Whipped Cream

Ice creams

Cordials

Coffee, tea

 

 

Roast Turkey with Sage Dressing

 

Perfect Turkey

 

Over the years I have tried many recipes for roast turkey from many different cookbooks, and each year I try to take the best from each recipe, combine them, add to them, and then alter the result according to that time-honored final test, EXPERIENCE.  It has been fun seeing how methods have changed with the decades, from open-roasting with cheesecloth on the top, popular in the 1950s, to wrapping in aluminum foil, in vogue in the 1960s, to the self-basting birds with the popup timers of the 1970s and beyond.  “Health” crazes, such as low-fat and Kosher turkeys, “gourmet” crazes, such as stuffing under the skin with herbed butter, or enrobing the bird in puff pastry, have come and gone, some of them good, some disastrous.  Indeed, if the cook has the time, it may be fun to try a trendy elaboration, such as deep frying a whole turkey with Cajun spices in a cauldron of boiling fat in the backyard.  But, especially for Thanksgiving, one must usually bow to tradition, especially when relatives are the guests, and for me tradition usually means the simplicity of a basic roast turkey.

 

We tend to think of turkey mainly for Thanksgiving, but it is an excellent idea for any time of year, especially for large families where the cooking of a large quantity is convenient and economical.  Sometimes I like to buy a frozen turkey in the summertime, when it is often on sale, and roast it simply in the oven, forgoing the stuffing and gravy (which present the majority of the work), and then bone and chill the meat, preserved in its own gelatinous juices, for summer sandwiches, fajitas, salads, and stir-fries. Or pull off the whole, cooked breast, wrap it well, and keep it in the refrigerator for deli-style slicing.  Your home-cooked turkey will have better flavor, less salt, and less fat than any store-bought cold cuts, at a fraction of the cost.

 

Every cookbook talks about the age-old problem of roasting a turkey: the breast meat cooks faster than the dark meat and tends to dry out.  The following method, which is the best I have come up with so far, deals with the problem, in an effective albeit novel manner. 

 

 

LET’S TALK TURKEY!

 

FRESH VERSUS FROZEN: There was a time I insisted on a fresh turkey, but I have discovered that the quality of the bird is more important than whether it has been frozen or not.  Besides, if you twist most butchers’ arms, they will tell you that “fresh” turkeys have usually been stored at temperatures of about 33 degrees, as close to frozen as you can get, in order to maintain freshness; indeed, such turkeys are often stiff when you get them.  Other turkeys have been previously frozen and then thawed out to give the appearance they are “fresh”.  Whether frozen or not, what is critical is that the turkey be “fresh,” meaning, not spoiled, as poultry which has never been frozen or which has completely thawed out spoils rapidly.  Some of the worst turkey experiences I have heard about have been of well-meaning cooks who travel to a far-off farm to obtain a “fresh-killed” bird, only to have the bloody beast taste like the barn it came from.  Whomever you get your turkey from, know their reputation.

 

NATURAL VERSUS SELF-BASTING: Self-basting birds, which made their appearance around the 1970s, attempt to solve an old complaint regarding the “dryness” of turkey, especially of overcooked turkey breast.  Moistening fat and juices are injected deep into the meat to be released during the cooking process.  Indeed, such birds are relatively carefree for the cook, and the result is usually tender and juicy, though heavily salted, as the tenderizing solutions injected into the bird are high in sodium.  Kosher turkeys, known for high quality, are tenderized in brine, in a related manner, whether self-basting or not, and are also high in sodium.  These birds are good choices, but if salt is an issue for people on low-sodium diets, one is best to choose a natural turkey which is not self-basting or brined.  Personally, I prefer a natural turkey (though nowadays they may be hard to find).  When cooking a natural bird, as in the recipe that follows, the problem of “dryness” is solved in two ways.  Number one, the cardinal rule: do not overcook the bird.  Number two: use the inverted method, which drives the cooking juices into the breast meat during roasting.     

 

SIZE: Generally, the size of the turkey is dictated by the number of guests; allow one pound of turkey for each guest.  For example, an eight-pound turkey should serve eight people generously.  My experience has been that smaller “hen” turkeys (under 14 pounds) usually have richer, moister flavor than bigger “tom” turkeys, and of course are easier to handle.  Toms are good for large parties, where a 16 to 25-pound bird can feed a gang of two dozen, and the large turkey, beautifully browned, makes a dramatic presentation.  Be cautious about buying turkeys over 25 or 30 pounds, however, as you may have trouble fitting them into your roasting pan and/or oven (quite a problem if discovered at the last minute).  Also, the larger the bird, the more unevenly it cooks, in which case the problem of the “dried-out” breast becomes greater and greater.  In the inverted-cooking method, which I give below, the turkey must be turned at one point, in which case very large birds are cumbersome.

 

THAWING:  I have many notations in my cookbooks to this effect: complete thawing is absolutely critical to successfully roasting a turkey.  And, never underestimate the time it takes to thaw a solidly frozen bird.  If the bird is still stiff or even very cold when it goes into the oven, this can dramatically increase cooking time and also lead to uneven cooking.  Attempts to roast partially frozen poultry can result in birds which are overcooked on the outside, and still red and raw on the inside, not only unpleasant but dangerous to eat.  The best method for thawing is to place the frozen bird in the refrigerator and then allow a full 24 hours for every 4 POUNDS of weight.  Thus, a 24-pound turkey should take about 6 days to thaw completely.  (The time will depend partly on the temperature in your refrigerator.)  Make sure you have a tray or drip pan underneath your turkey, for when it is thawed it may begin to run juices (in fact, this is a good sign of full thawing).  Once thawed, keep the turkey as cold as possible in the refrigerator and it will keep well for an additional day or two.

 

In a pinch you can attempt to thaw a turkey in a sink full of very cold water or under running water for several hours, a makeshift and unreliable method TO BE AVOIDED by proper planning well ahead of time.  Similarly, microwave thawing is uneven and may result in a partially cooked, partially raw bird before you even begin your recipe, and most microwaves are not big enough to accommodate a turkey of any considerable size. 

 

Here is my recipe for “Perfect Turkey,” as currently written.  It may be made with fresh, thawed, natural or self-basting turkey.  It begins with a preliminary cleaning and soaking:

 

 

ChefBilly’s Roast Turkey

 

Start with a fresh turkey, preferably, neither previously frozen nor self-basting, though any quality turkey is fine, Kosher also being an excellent choice.  For this recipe, and for a dramatic presentation, a bird from 20 to 25 pounds is ideal.  If previously frozen, make sure the turkey is completely thawed, allowing as much as 24 hours in the refrigerator for each 4 pounds of weight from the solidly frozen state.  The night before, or the morning it is to be cooked, clean and soak the turkey for one hour in a clean sink full of ice-cold water in which ¼ cup salt has been added.  Drain; pat dry inside and out.  Stuff and tie, no earlier than an hour before the bird is to go into the oven.  (Stuffing may be omitted, or one chopped onion and two ribs of chopped celery and a tablespoon of dried sage or poultry seasoning may be put in the cavities for flavor.)  

 

You may roast simply according to wrapper directions.  Or, use the following “upside-down” method for an especially tender, moist result.  Place the turkey breast-side down on parchment paper on a rack in a roasting pan, having first brushed the turkey all over with a mixture of 3 tablespoons each melted butter and olive oil.  (A modern shortcut, and very good: simply spray the entire bird generously with butter-flavored PAM.)  Lightly salt the back and legs and sprinkle with adobo seasoning (available at Mexican markets or spice shops) or poultry seasoning and black pepper.  Pour one cup water into the pan and place on the bottom rack of a pre-heated 450-degree Fahrenheit oven.  After one minute, reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake, uncovered, for three hours if the bird is over 20 pounds.  (If under 18 pounds, bake for two hours, if between 18 and 21 pounds, bake for two and a half hours.)  Baste every hour or so with the pan drippings. 

 

At the end of three hours (or less if bird is under 21 pounds, see above), turn the bird breast-side up and baste well.  (I usually use a pair of clean, thick oven mitts to accomplish this task, the mitts thrown in the laundry afterwards.  Without pulling the legs or wings from the body, and avoiding getting your gloves in the hot pan juices, grasp the bird firmly by the sides and quickly invert it.  If the bird is first removed to a platter using a turkey sling, this is most easily done, the bird then returned breast-side up to the roasting pan.)  After basting, roast the turkey for approximately one more hour (more or less, depending on size), until its automatic timer “pops up,” or until a meat thermometer registers 175 degrees when inserted deeply between the breast and thigh.  Pop up timer or no, I usually double-check the temperature of the bird with a meat thermometer.

 

Do not overcook turkey, as this will result in the dreaded dryness of the meat.  If the breast is not sufficiently brown when the turkey is done, increase the heat to 400 degrees and roast for 5 or 10 minutes longer, which should be sufficient to bring about a nice brown color without overcooking.

 

TIMING: my notes say that a 22-pound fresh turkey takes exactly four hours, or about 11 minutes per pound.  A very cold, previously frozen bird may take longer.  Also, smaller turkeys tend to take more time per pound.  One of my notes states that a 14-pound previously frozen turkey required a full four hours, the same as the 22-pound fresh one.  In any event, time your cooking so that the turkey is done a full one or two hours before you wish to eat.

 

Let the finished turkey stand outside the oven for 20 to 40 minutes before carving.  To keep warm, cover with aluminum foil and return bird to 190-degree oven, where it will remain warm without drying out for another two or three hours, plenty of time to make your accompaniments and entertain your guests!

 

This recipe signed,

 

ChefBilly

Christmas, 1998

 

 

 

Gravy

 

My Grandmother Jean’s

Gravy Recipe

 

This basic recipe may be used with any roast.

 

Remove roast; pour juices from pan into a large measuring cup or bowl and let sit a few minutes to let grease rise to the top.  Carefully remove grease with a tablespoon, leaving the fat-free broth on the bottom.  Reserve grease and broth.

 

Return 4 tablespoons of the grease or butter to the pan along with 8 tablespoons (½ cup) flour.  Stir and cook on top of the stove over medium heat, loosening all of the flavorful brown bits from the roasting pan, until flour is very lightly browned.  Add 4 cups of the reserved broth (if there is not enough, add canned broth or water to make a total of 4 cups).  Using a wire whisk, beat smooth over medium heat, adding a dash of salt and pepper to taste, and Kitchen Bouquet soup base if the gravy lacks color.  Cook, simmering gently, about 5 minutes.  Strain into a saucepan or hot serving bowl.  Taste carefully for seasoning; if flavor is insufficient, add bouillon cubes or soup base.

 

This basic recipe may be used to make a larger or smaller amount of gravy, remembering that the proportions are, to each cup of liquid, 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 tablespoon of butter or fat.

 

 

--Jean Gordon McDonald

 

 

Mashed Idaho Potatoes

 

When you have gravy, you gotta have potatoes!

 

This recipe is best made with Idahos, but any firm, fresh potato will do.  Reds make for wetter mashed potatoes.

 

For six servings:

 

6 large Idaho potatoes

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

3 Tblsps butter

½ cup or more milk or cream

 

Quantities are approximate, because they will depend on the size and texture of your potatoes.  Two secrets here: don’t use too much water in the boiling process and serve as soon as possible after mashing.

 

Peel and rinse potatoes and cut into big, three-inch chunks.  (If peeling ahead of time, keep under cold water to keep potatoes from turning black.)  Place drained potatoes in a deep saucepan and fill with boiling water about two-thirds up to the tops of the potatoes.  Cover and let simmer gently until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes.  Promptly drain as thoroughly as possible, leaving the potatoes in the saucepan.

 

Once boiled, the potatoes are best when mashed and served as soon as possible.  Have your potato masher (or large fork) and all ingredients ready.  Place about half of the butter, salt and pepper over the potatoes and begin mashing as the butter melts.  Add milk or cream  gradually and continue mashing, adding the remaining salt and pepper to taste.  Check for consistency, adding more milk or cream if necessary.  This will depend on the type of potato used.  Carefully taste for seasoning.  Finally, using a narrow fork or whisk, fluff up the potatoes to maximum volume.

 

Ahead of time hint: Once finished, cover the potatoes and let rest off the heat.  If you do not remove the cover, they will keep hot for a good half hour, but if reheated, the fresh flavor will change to a more starchy taste.

 

VARIATIONS:  GARLIC POTATOES:  Boil several cloves of peeled garlic along with the potatoes and mash with the potatoes.

 

IRISH POTATOES:  When mashing, keep adding hot milk or cream until the potatoes are the consistency of porridge.  Salt well.

 

CHEESY POTATOES:  Mash a cup of finely grated cheese (cheddar, Velveeta, Jack, Swiss) into the hot potatoes until smooth.

 

FRIED POTATO CAKES: An Italian favorite.  Whip leftover mashed potatoes with some beaten egg and milk; fold in leftover vegetables (peas, broccoli, green beans, etc.)  Shape into cakes and fry in butter until golden brown on each side.  A real treat.

 

       

 

 

My Grandmother Jean’s

Stuffing for Turkey

 

Another recipe my Grandmother probably derived from the mansions of old Lake Forest, this has been our family favorite for generations.  This stuffing has a light, delicate flavor, perfect for the roast turkey recipe above.  Double this amount for a large bird, over 15 pounds. 

 

To toast breadcrumbs: Select a white bread with considerable body, such as Pepperidge, Brownberry, or Buttermaid.  Avoid very light breads such as Wonder or  Butternut.  Trim crusts from bread and cut bread slices into three-quarter inch cubes.  Spread the bread cubes (“crumbs”) in a single layer on a baking sheet or pizza pan and place in the middle of a 250-degree oven until dry and lightly browned, tossing occasionally.  This should take about 20 minutes.  You may need to do several batches if you are making a lot of stuffing.  Toasting the breadcrumbs will give your home a wonderful freshly-baked bread smell!

 

If you toast the breadcrumbs and chop the celery a day ahead, the stuffing is easily prepared Thanksgiving or Christmas morning.  Keep the breadcrumbs at room temperature in a large bowl covered loosely with waxed paper, and store the chopped celery in a plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight.  The entire stuffing recipe may also be made a day ahead and refrigerated.  We suggest adding the eggs just before you are going to use the stuffing.  And, for health reasons, NEVER stuff a raw bird more than an hour before you intend to roast it.

 

Ingredients:

 

7 cups white bread cubes, toasted lightly

2 cups chopped celery

2 or 3 Tbsps chopped onion

6 Tbsps butter

tsps salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

tsps rubbed sage or poultry seasoning

1 or 2 chopped apples (optional)

 

 

Method:

 

Put toasted bread cubes in a large bowl.  Add eggs and toss.  Add onions and celery which have been sautéed in the butter until tender, about 10 minutes.  Add salt, sage or poultry seasoning, and mix well.  Add one or two chopped apples (optional).  If more moisture is needed, add more butter or egg. 

 

Stuff bird lightly and sew.  Leftover stuffing may be baked separately in a heatproof bowl, covered, in a 350° oven for about half an hour, basted lightly with turkey drippings.

 

YIELD: About 9½ cups dry.

 

--Jean Gordon McDonald

 

 

 

Meat Stuffing for Turkey

 

My Aunt Helen’s Old-World Stuffing

 

For those who enjoy a hearty stuffing with meat, this very old-fashioned recipe is delicious and easily prepared. This amount is perfect to stuff a capon or hen turkey.  Today, it is fashionable to bake stuffing separately at 350° in a covered bowl to an internal temperature of 175°, basting with pan drippings.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 pound ground meat (¾ beef, ¼ pork)

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

4 tsps salt (or less to taste)

1 tsp pepper

2 Tbsps poultry seasoning

2 Tbsps dried parsley

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 box (10 ounces) unseasoned breadcrumbs

2½ to 3 cups milk

 

Method:

 

Put ground meat in a big mixing bowl.  Gradually mix in remaining ingredients, adding milk to desired consistency.  This stuffing will be quite wet and sticky.  Note: do NOT sauté vegetables but use raw.  Cover the dressing and refrigerate until ready to use.  (ChefBilly’s note: The original recipe says “let rest overnight” but given today’s increased health concerns, you may wish to make this dressing and refrigerate for just a couple of hours to blend flavors before using.)

 

--Helen Gorski

 

 

Baked Spiral-Sliced Ham

Spiral-sliced hams, available from most butchers and supermarkets, are an excellent choice for a party. These are whole or half smoked hams with bone in that have been mechanically pre-sliced, yet hold together for baking. These hams are simple to make, and usually come with a glaze that is brushed on during the last hour or so of cooking. To serve, just cut the pre-sliced pieces where they join at the center, and put the slices onto a warm platter.

An eight-pound half ham will serve eight people generously and provide you with leftovers.

METHOD: follow package instructions. Remember that the ham is, usually, already cooked. Your main goal is to heat it through without drying it out. If it is a half ham, ChefBilly likes to place it cut side down on a piece of parchment paper in a roasting pan to hold in the juices. Choose a pan that is slightly larger than the ham, no more; too big a pan can contribute to the ham's drying out. Cover the pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil and seal tightly around the edges. Preheat oven to 325°F (unless your instructions suggest a different temperature). Position oven rack near the bottom. For an eight-pound ham, bake for one hour, then remove from oven and take off the foil.

You will notice a fair bit of ham juices in the pan. Remove these to a heatproof container and reserve. They are too salty to use as a sauce, but can be used in small quantities to flavor soup, gravies, and stews. Stir into scrambled eggs before cooking for a delicious flavor. Refrigerated, ham juices turn into a beautiful, clear, fat-free gelatin that will keep for weeks. Use in place of salt.

If your ham came with a glaze, prepare it according to package directions before removing the ham from the oven. If the directions call for liquid to make the glaze, use apple juice, orange juice, or beer instead of plain water. And don't make the glaze too far in advance, or it may thicken excessively. If this happens, heat gently and add more liquid. Glaze should have the consistency of thick honey. Brush the glaze all over the exposed surface of the ham. If your ham did not come with a glaze, pack dark brown sugar all over the ham, carefully using your hands or a large spoon. Use as much sugar as you need to cover the surface of the ham about one-eighth inch, and pour a half-cup of fruit juice into the pan to keep the sugar from burning.

Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and return the ham, uncovered, to the oven. Bake about one more hour, brushing with additional glaze once or twice. Check the thermometer carefully. Do not let it exceed the recommended temperature for doneness according to package directions. If your ham came fully cooked (which most spiral-sliced hams do), this is 140°F. If the ham came "partially cooked," it should be baked to an internal temperature of 160°F to completely cook the meat.

Hint: many packaged hams instruct you to bake them longer than necessary. Fifteen minutes per pound, or two hours total for an eight-pound ham, is usually more than enough. Check the thermometer: it is your final judge of doneness. Overcooking will dry out your ham, which is the worst thing that could happen in this recipe.

Place your finished ham on a beautiful platter, spooning a little of the pan drippings over the top. For an attractive presentation, garnish with Romaine lettuce leaves. Then parade your beautiful ham, glistening with its golden glaze, in front of your guests, and carve at the table. And smile with pride . . .

 

 

ChefBilly's Candied Sweet Potatoes

This is the stuff dreams are made of . . .

People have traveled to the Inn just for these. Peel about three pounds of sweet potatoes and cut into three-inch chunks. Place in a large, heavy pot and cover with one cup white sugar. Add boiling water to within three-quarters of the top of the potatoes. Cover and boil gently until the potatoes are fork-tender but not mushy, about twenty minutes. Drain.

Spread the hot sweet potatoes in one layer in a large, deep, buttered skillet and let cool. Dot with one stick (one-quarter pound) sweet, unsalted butter and sprinkle with one cup light brown sugar. Drizzle with one-quarter cup dark corn syrup and one-quarter cup maple syrup.

Shortly before serving, place the skillet over low heat. As the butter and sugar melt, gently turn the potatoes to coat. Keep the potatoes in whole pieces; do not break them up into mush. When the syrup begins to bubble and caramelize and the sweet potatoes are heated through, serve.

Children love these mashed on their plates.

SERVES 8 generously.

 

 

 

My Grandmother Jean’s

Pumpkin Pie

A very mild, traditional flavor.

 

For a large, 10-inch pie, use 1½ times the amounts of filling and crust.  For two large pies, use 3 times the amounts of filling and crust.

 

Ingredients:

 

One recipe for a single Crisco pie crust (see below)

2 Tbsps butter

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs, unbeaten

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp each cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg

1 cup mashed, canned pumpkin (unseasoned)

1¼ cups whole milk

 

Method:

 

Cream butter and add the sugar and eggs; mix well.  Add salt, spices, pumpkin and milk.  Pour into an 8-inch pie plate lined with unbaked pie crust.  Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour, or until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

 

NOTE: Decorative pie crust, cut into shapes and baked separately, may be placed on the top of the finished pie for presentation.

 

SERVE WITH FRESHLY WHIPPED CREAM.

 

 

 

Crisco Pie Crust

 

Over the years I have tried other pie crust recipes, made with butter, margarine, or lard, but keep coming back to this one for its light, flaky texture and ease of preparation.

 

Recipe for a single pie crust:

 

One and a third cups sifted all-purpose flour

One-half teaspoon salt

One-half cup Crisco shortening

Three to four tablespoons cold water

 

Combine flour and salt in mixing bowl.  Cut in Crisco with a pastry fork or wire whisk until mixture resembles cornmeal.  Add enough water to just hold the dough together.  Do not overwork.  Dough is easier to roll out on floured waxed paper if chilled an hour or more. 

 

For a pie baked with filling, follow recipe instructions.  For a partially baked crust, prick dough with fork and bake about 6 minutes at 400 degrees.  For a fully baked crust, bake about 15 minutes, or to desired brownness.

 

 

Crisco Double Pie Crust:

 

Two and a quarter cups sifted flour

One teaspoon salt

Three-quarter cups Crisco shortening

Five tablespoons cold water

 

Prepare dough as for single crust.  Roll into two circles, one slightly larger for the bottom crust.  Top crust may be put on whole or in strips.  If whole, make vent holes with fork.  Crimp edges.  Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes; reduce to 400 degrees and bake 25-30 minutes longer, or until crust is brown and filling is done.

 


 

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