Buttermilk Pie Crust (All Butter Pie Crust)

 I was searching for an easy buttermilk pie crust recipe and tried this one. I love it! It was a perfect crust for my pies. I have to give credit to King Arthur Test Kitchen for this recipe.

2 1/2 cups of flour. 

1 tsp salt

2 Tbsp buttermilk powder

16 Tbsp of unsalted butter (I did use salted butter and just reduced the salt in the recipe to 1/2 tsp)

1/4 to 1 cup ice water

Step by step

1) Whisk together flour, salt, and buttermilk powder (they said this was optional, but I think it needs it.)

2) Dice the butter into small cubes. Work it into the flour mixture (I used my food processor, pulsing until it was well distributed but not fully mixed in.) I call is small pea sized mixture.)

3) Gradually add the ice water mixing it with a fork or your fingers until it starts to come together. (I had to add more water the recipe called for, almost twice the 1/2 cup. However, start with the 1/4 cup suggested and add what you need for it to come together) 

4) Gather the dough, handling it as little as possible. Divide the dough in half and form a round disc.

5) You can roll the dough immediately or refrigerate up to a half hour. It was suggested that for a better texture that you refrigerate it. If you refrigerate it for more than half hour, you will need to let it come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before you work with it.

Pumpkin Pie

This is for a nine inch pie.

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup lard or shortening
dash of salt

Mix these together really well.  It needs to be all crumbled and in small pieces.

Add 1/4 cup very cold water.

Try not to mix very much after you add the water.  It ruins the crust to mix it too much.  When it all holds together well, roll into a circle and put in the pie crust.

Pumpkin filling:

In a blender put 2 eggs and turn it on for about 30 seconds.

Add:

1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or what I usually use is 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ginger and 1/8 tsp cloves.
2 cups pumpkin
1 cup cream or evaporated milk.

Blend well for a minute making sure that it is well blended.  Pour it into the pie shell.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and bake it at that temperature for 10 minutes.  This helps to set the custard.  Then reduce the heat to 350 and cook for 40 to 50 minutes, but test it with a knife or toothpick before you pull it out to make sure that it is set.  If the knife comes out "clean" (with no pumpkin clinging to it) then the pie is done.

Bottled Apple Pie Filling

6 quarts cored, pealed and sliced apples
2 cups water

Bring apples to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

While the apples are boiling, mix together in a bowl:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup Clear Gel
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt

When the apples are done simmering, add 1/2 of a 12 oz can of frozen apple juice.  Stir in.  Then add the sugar mixture and stir very well.

Put it into canning jars, seal and process for 30 minutes.

When you make a pie, just make your crust, add one jar of pie filling, top with crust, lattice or streusel topping.


1/3 cup butter
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Mix together really well and sprinkle over the top of the pie and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.