News from the Mudd

Today is National Pie Day, not to be confused with National Pi Day which is celebrated in March. Or January 25 which is the day "National Velvet" was released in 1945.
The American Pie Council counsels us to use pies only for the most wholesome purposes today. Give your sweetie or your co-workers a pie. Make a pie with your kids. Buy a pie and give it to the person behind you in the grocery check-out line. Hand out slices to strangers and encourage them to do the same, sort of "pie it forward."

While we're at it, don't even think of using any other pie crust recipe than this one:

1 1/3 c. sifted all purpose flour (sift before measuring)
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 t. salt

Put all ingredients into a metal bowl. Put the bowl and your pastry blender into the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Cut shortening into flour until the mixture is uniformly crumbly looking. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of very cold water (unflavored, unsweetened sparkling water works best) over the dough and lightly toss with a fork. Add another tablespoon, toss. Add one more tablespoon and toss. If the dough still looks very dry, add small amounts of water and toss until the dough slightly clumps together as you toss it.

Use you hands to very gently form the dough into a loose ball. Pat it so it just holds together. Place on a floured surface and roll out to the desired size and thickness. Makes a single pie crust.

Here are more fine pastry-related activities: number 1, number 2, and number 3.