Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Great Grandma Ashcroft's flakey pie crust

I come from a long line of awesome pie bakers. I learned mostly from my mom and a little from my grandmother who measured everything by hand and had only a 1/2 c measuring cup in her house. I assume for us baking impaired girls because I never saw her use it.
After calling home twice while at the cabin to make sure I had the ingredients and baking time right I thought I would post the recipe for future reference. My great grandmother Arrilla Ashcroft was a young widow who  did things like take in borders and wash to support her children. She was well known for her delicious pies and sold them to local restaurants. This is her recipe.

21/4 c flour
3/4 t salt
2/3 c + 2 T shortening. I like butter flavor crisco
ice water
Combine all ingredients excluding the water in a large bowl. Cut in shortening until it resembles very small peas. You can use a pastry cutter or a food processor for this but I think two knives work best. 
Gradually add ice water. Fluff with fork. Repeat. Do Not Stir! 

When the dough sticks together, but before it gets too wet you are ready to roll. Place half of the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap. It's not pretty but it works.

Fold in half in order to move it into the pie tin. The less you handle the crust the flakier it will be. Poke holes in crust with a fork.
For apple pie, fill crust with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter  and a touch of nutmeg if you like.
The family I grew up in liked a two crust pie. Ron's family likes this crumb top instead. I have been converted to thier crumbly ways. Plus now I can make two pies for the same amount of work.
Dutch apple crumb topping
1/4 c butter 
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c flour
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Cut in butter the same as you did for pie crust.


Sprinkle over top of pies.
Bake at 425 degrees for 45 minutes.


Here is Aubrey showing off her very first pie ever. It was amazing.
I am linking at Southern Lovely and Lil Luna



5 comments:

  1. I aspire to be a pie maker...but so far I prefer to let my hubby make the pies. His specialty is rhubarb! I'm going to pin this recipe so I can keep practicing! :) Great looking pie, Aubrey. You will be a pro in no time! ;)

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  2. Thanks I will let her know. My grandpa was the rhubarb pie maker. I loved it. You have and awesome husband.

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  3. That looks so lovely Laurel/Aubry! I love apple pie, and being a Dutchie, I love the recipe for the Dutch crumble :-). Thank you for the nice comment on my heart garland.
    Have a wonderful day ♥

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  4. LOVE grandma Ashcroft's pie crust! I wanted to make mini creme brulee pies but couldn't remember the recipe (and every other is simply disappointing, not enough butter?) so I just made the regular chocolate creme brulee. Of course, Darren loved it, but I wanted to make it more fun:)
    Can you post the no-bake cookie recipe we always used (especially when you didn't want your kitchen dirty, but you always somehow forgave us when they were finished). I tried a few recipes and they just aren't as good. I think we used the recipe in your shabby cookbook with the pink and blue pages

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  5. Ok I will look. Funny how I can be so forgiving when there are no bake cookies all over the table. I think you are right about the source. I think Syd brought that recipe home as a teenager from mutual one night.
    Creme Brulee pie....Yum!

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