Pie Crusts!!&?!@#$%$

@Shellyann36 (11385)
United States
October 20, 2008 3:02pm CST
Ok everyone, I have been cooking for quite some time now and you would think that I would know how to form/shape a beautiful pie crust. Unfortunately, they look terrible! I don't think they taste as good as the Pillsbury rolled crusts that you can buy in the refrigerated section either. I am banging my head because I can never get them to turn out right. Anyone got any hints, tips or ideas?
2 people like this
4 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
20 Oct 08
What's wrong with them that they look so terrible? We sometimes get this idea that everything has to be perfect, as if nature didn't grow peas that weren't the exact same size! When I first made a good piecrust, I used lard, just like Mom did. I "cut it in" to the flour with my fingers. To make it turn out more or less round, start by shaping a ball with it, then mashing it flat with the heel of your hand. Roll from top to bottom, from left to right, from bottom to top, from right to left, forming a circle as you go. And remember that "perfect" equals boring. :)
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
21 Oct 08
Practice makes perfect! :)
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@peavey (16936)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Thank you for "best response." :)
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Peavey they just look bad, sometimes I don't get it right and they taste bad. I do use lard as well. Makes a better crust. The ones I made today turned out pretty good! Thanks for all of your input!
1 person likes this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Do like i do stick to pillsbury because goodness it is less of a headache and looks a whole lot better!
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Yah I know what you mean about that, much less of a headache! I am trying my best to make things from scratch and tighten my food budget costs. The crusts I made today were not pretty but at least they tasted good. Thanks for you reply!
2 people like this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
21 Oct 08
As long as they taste good that is really all that counts!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 08
Take a basic pie crust recipe and experiment with it. I've added oatmeal, brown sugar and various other ingredients to a basic recipe-- with good results. As for making them look good? Well, it is always easy enough to trim of excess dough and such to "pretty things up." Try out various ways of doing pies-- single crust, double crust, crumb topping, lattice topping.... Something will eventually work for you. Besides, the way a pie looks is less important than how it tastes.
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Wilsongoddard that is interesting, adding the oatmeal and brown sugar to a basic crust. I have never heard of that before. Interesting. Thanks for replying!
1 person likes this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I mostly stick with the Pillsbury too. It tatses good and it's just easier. When I do get a wild hair and make a homemade pie crust I have a plastic crimper that I bought from Pampered Chef a few years ago. Seems to me it was fairly inexpensive. You just take it around the edge of your pie plate and squeeze it together and it crimps it beautifully while it cuts off the excess. Good Luck
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I have heard several good things about Pampered Chef. I need to check them out. Every one seems to think that Pillsbury is the bomb of pie crusts! Thanks for posting!
1 person likes this