Home-made Pie Crust and Lemon Custard Recipes

A lot of people are afraid to make their own pie crusts. A lot of people will say, "Why bother when you can buy all the different ready made ones in the store?" (I've even used that one!) BUT... if you follow these directions and use COLD ingredients, you'll taste the difference and want to make them when you have the time. For those times when you just do not have time... use the pre-made stuff, but try this one when you have time :-)

Pie Crust

2 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 sticks *COLD butter, cubed

1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Pulse in a food processor until pea size.

Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup **ice cold water.

Pulse until dough forms when mashed together in your hand. Divide into 2 rounds and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill for 1 -2 hours.

* If the butter warms in your hands while cubing, sit it back in the frig until it is nice and cold.
** Fill a pitcher with ice and add water. Let sit until you are ready to make the dough to insure that the water is ice cold.

Lemon Custard

Whisk together in a medium size saucepan:
6 egg yolks
3/4 cups sugar

Add:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/8 tsp salt

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.

Add:
zest of 1 1/4 lemons

Stir with a wooden spoon.

Add:
1 stick of butter, cubed

Stir until melted. Cool and cover with plastic so a skin doesn't form. Chill for about 30 minutes.

Pie

Who doesn't love pie? Here are some pie recipes just in time for the holidays!

Pecan Pie

unbaked pie shell
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup white corn syrup
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 cups pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, add sugar, syrups, eggs and vanilla. Mix. Chop nuts and add to mixture. Pour into pie shell and bake for 1 hour.

Pumpkin Pie

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 3/4 cups pumpkin
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 cup light cream

Mix in order and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes, then turn heat down to 350 and bake for about 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Southern Peanut Butter Pie

1 pie crust
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup salted peanuts

Chill the pie crust. Mix together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, peanut butter and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in peanuts. Pour into chilled pie shell and bake for 15 minutes at 400. Turn heat down to 350 and bake for 30 or 35 minutes. Let cool.


Old Fashioned Custard Pie

This is a wonderful basic custard recipe. You can add nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon or coconut. See how many flavors you can make!

Heat one quart sweet milk almost to a boil. Beat in 2 cups sugar, 8 eggs and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Pour mixture into an unbaked pie shell. Bake 30-40 minutes in 300 degree oven.