Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Pie Dough

Make sure that the shortening is cold. Don’t overwork it. Dryer climates might require a little more liquid.

Ingredients

2 cups              Flour

1 cup               Shortening

1 /4 tsp            Salt

1                      Egg

1 /3 cup           Milk

 

Instructions

Blend first three ingredients together with a pastry cutter or a fork. Separately, beat egg and milk together. Slowly add egg/milk mixture to flour mixture, one tablespoon at a time until pie dough becomes moist and forms a ball. Divide in half and shape into a ball. Wrap and refrigerate one hour before rolling.

Roll out on a floured surface.

Yield: Two crusts

To roll out dough: Remove dough disk from refrigerator. If stiff and cold, let stand until dough is cool but malleable.

Using a floured rolling pin, roll dough disk on a lightly floured surface from the center out in each direction, forming a 12-inch circle. To transfer dough, carefully roll it around the rolling pin, lift and unroll dough, centering it in an ungreased nine-inch pie plate.

Recent Recipes

Pie Dough

This crust has been the base for countless savory pies over the years. The key is keeping the butter ice-cold and giving the dough enough time to rest in the refrigerator. For a little twist, add 1 tablespoon of freshly cracked black pepper or 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives to the flour mixture.

Read more

Denver Omelet Quiche

I love quiche. To me, it’s great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In the morning, it’s perfect with fresh fruit. At lunch or dinner, it pairs well with a light salad. Never use the pre-shredded cheese in plastic bags from the dairy case. It's dusted with cellulose, which messes with the texture and flavor. Always grate cheese from a block. It’s an extra step but it will save money and taste so much better.

Read more

Italian Cheesecake

If you are a fan of American-style cream cheese cheesecake, this might not be your dessert. Though if you like something lighter and less sweet, this is the dessert for you.

Read more