Secret to a Flaky Pie Crust

A flaky pie crust doesn't have to be intimidating . . .

Step 1: Ingredients:

1 cup All Purpose Flour

½ cup Shortening

½ tsp. Salt

4 Tbs. Ice Water

Step 2:

Combine flour and salt in a bowl and mix.

Mix in shortening with fingers until combined and crumbly.

Add ice water until just combined (do not over mix).

Step 3:

Roll out on a floured cloth with a sleeve on your rolling pin (cover your sleeve with flour too).

Step 4:

Put pie crust into pie pan.

Step 5:

Work as much of the crust into the pan as you can (this prevents it from shrinking while baking).

Step 6:

Cut off any excess around the edge, fold under and make decorative edge of your choice.

Step 7:

And now the secret to a flaky pie crust . . . with a fork poke holes and I mean poke a LOT of holes.

Step 8:

Don’t forget to go up the sides.

Step 9:

If you just need a cooked crust, bake at 425 degrees for 14 – 16 minutes until golden brown.

Step 10:

If you are making a cooked pie, put your crust in the oven (425 degrees) and bake until it becomes dull (watch closely).

Step 11:

Fill your crust with your filling, lower the temperature to whatever your recipe calls for and continue to cook as instructed.