Friday, November 29, 2013

No Shortening @SmartBalance @FAGEUSA Diana's PIE DOUGH #Healthy #HolidayBaking #GardenCuizine

No Shortening Pie Dough

Home baked pies are enjoyed by all during the Holidays. Many people I speak to may bake off a pie using a store bought crust. I encourage you to make the crust too! Store bought pie crust is convenient but lacks terribly in nutrients and is mostly empty calories. After several attempts at modifying pie dough to use less fat and no shortening, here is one that got two thumbs up from my family for our Thanksgiving pie last night.

Ingredients

Yields: 2 crusts

  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup Fage Greek yogurt* plain
  • 2 tablespoons Smart Balance* oil blend
  • 1/4 cup ice water
Putting it all together

Sift or whisk together the dry ingredients. Cut the cold butter into ¼ inch cubes and mix into the dry flour. If you are using a mixer, the paddle attachment works well. Drizzle in the oil. Mix in the cold water. Add yogurt one tablespoon at a time while mixing. When the dough starts to come together, turn the mixer off and finish pressing together by hand. Divide the dough into 2 balls and flatten into 1 inch discs, wrap in clear wrap and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.

This all-purpose pie dough is soft and easy to work with. The taste is more like a butter cookie and will not be flaky as a crust made with shortening or lard. It works well for Pumpkin and fruit pies.


Happy Baking!
*Adding 2 tablespoons Smart Balance oil (a blend of mono and polyunsaturated fats: olive, canola and soy) adds vitamin E and 2,000 mg Omega 3's. You can use canola oil OR trans fat free shortening if you don't have Smart Balance. Also, I use Fage lowfat (2%) Greek yogurt, which adds calcium and protein to the recipe. 

Related Links
Diana's Pumpkin Pie recipe  
Blog post and photos copyright (C) 2013 Wind. All rights reserved. Revised 2015.
Greens in the photo collage: Cold hardy Arugula and Parsley harvested Thanksgiving Day!

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