Pie Pastry

I just wanted to share my favorite pie crust recipe. It actually comes from the mother of my husband's high school girlfriend. =) She (the mom) has since gone professional with her baking... She's a Southern cook, through and through, and everything she makes is AMAZING.

Ingredients:

3 c. flour
1 t. salt
1/4 - 1/3 c. sugar
1 c. fat (no really, that's what she wrote)
her preferred mixture is 2/3 c. shortening + 5 T. butter
About 10 T. ice water, more or less

The process is pretty standard from here--with a pastry blender, combine flour, salt, sugar and fat. Then gradually add water until it reaches the right consistency. I'd tell you what that's like, but I don't always get it right.

Caramel Pecan Pie

I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a major hit. It was super easy, too. I will be making this every year from now on!

Ingredients:
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
40 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecan halves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.)
In a saucepan over low heat, combine caramels, butter and milk. Cook, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt. Gradually mix in the melted caramel mixture. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Allow to cool until filling is firm. I actually made it the day before, and it was great, too.

Snickers Pecan Pie

3 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 c White corn syrup
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c melted butter
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c chopped snickers bars (12 fun size snickers) or 9 oz.
1 c chopped pecans

To make filling, combine eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla. Stir in chopped snickers bars and pecans. Pour filling into unbaked 9" pie shell. bake at 375 for 40-50 min. or until knife inserted off center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Garnish with whipped cream and slices of snickers.

Cranberry Pecan Pie

Filling:
3 eggs
1 c. corn syrup
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. fresh cranberries
1 c. chopped pecans

Prepare pastry in a 9" pie plate. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix filling (1st five ingredients) well, add cranberries and pecans and stir until coated. Pour into shell. Bake 10 min. at 425 degrees, then 38 min. at 350 degrees. Cool and refrigerate.