Julia Child

Julia Child in the Family and Friend’s Cookbook? Well… yes. After watching her for soooo many years and reading all of her books, she seems like an old family friend. And her pie crust recipe is just too good – and simple – for words!

  • 5 ¼ cups pastry or all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 ½ sticks cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 ¾ cups cold solid vegetable shortening (or lard)
  • 1 cup ice water

Starting with very cold ingredients, mix all dry ingredients in food processor and pulse a few times just to mix.

Add the pieces of very cold butter and shortening and pulse until it looks like coarse cornmeal.

Add water a bit at a time, pulsing as you add, until mixture has curds and sticks together when pressed between your fingers. Do not pulse until it forms a ball – you’ve mixed it too much!

Wrap in plastic and chill for 2 hours, then roll out on lightly floured board.

This is enough for 2 double crusted pies. Remainder can be frozen.