My Mommas Fried Pie Pastry Recipes

MAMA'S FRIED PIES

Steps:

• Cook fruit in water until tender. Drain and mix with sugar and margarine. Mash well. Refrigerate overnight if possible. Roll out homemade piecrust dough and cut into saucer-sized circles.
• Spoon fruit onto circles and fold over into crescent shapes, then close the edges completely with a fork. Fry until golden brown. Place fried pies on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• Variations: For baked pies, place crescents on a lightly-greased baking sheet in a 400 degree oven until golden brown.
• For apple pies, use dried apples and add apple pie spice (or nutmeg and cinnamon) and vanilla to taste.
• For prune pies, use dry, pitted prunes and add vanilla to taste.
• Place the flour and a dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Add the shortening and cut it in with a pastry blender or use your hands, as I do. Add the water, a teaspoon at a time, kneading until the dough is smooth.

TRADITIONAL FRIED PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
• Cut in shortening (suggested to cut in half then add in the other half because it makes the pastry both tender and flaky)until it resembles coarse meal.
• Mix water and vinegar together,set aside.
• Add in water mixture, stirring with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Add a little more water if dough seems too dry; shape dough into a ball and chill at least 1 hour, until ready to use.
• Preferred filling Our Family's Fried Pies.
• Roll out a ball of pastry about the size of a golf ball.
• Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of fruit filling on 1/2 of pastry circle leaving about a half inch edge.
• Fold over and seal with a fork.
• ***Pies may be frozen at this point.
• Fry frozen or thawed pies in a skillet of hot oil(preferred Crisco at 375 degrees in cast iron skillet) until golden brown.
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
• Can be eaten as is (preferred)or sprinkle with powdered sugar, lightly.
• Enjoy! ;).

FRIED PIES

Steps:

• To make the pastry, mix together the flour, granulated sugar and salt. Cut in 1 cup of the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 1 of the eggs and the buttermilk and stir until it just comes together. Add a little more buttermilk if needed. Form it into a ball and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• To make the pies, roll the pastry out into a large square. Trim the edges to make a rectangle. Cut into 8 to 10 long rectangles, using a butter knife.
• Spoon a tablespoon or so of filling into the top half of one of the rectangles.
• Use the remaining beaten eggs to seal the edges by folding the bottom half of the rectangle over the top. Then crimp the edges shut with a fork. Repeat with the other pies, filling half with apple pie filling and half with cherry pie filling.
• Heat shortening in a medium, deep saucepan over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F. Fry the pies until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove and immediately drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

OUR FAMILY FRIED PIES

Steps:

• Wash and dice dried apricots, then place in a sauce pan and cover with water (about 1 inch above fruit).
• Cook slowly until tender.
• Do NOT pour off water.
• Add spices to taste and lemon juice.
• Thicken with a corn starch slurry.
• **Be careful of scorching after cornstarch is added.
• Roll out a ball of pastry about the size of a golf ball.
• Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of fruit filling on 1/2 of pastry circle leaving about a half inch edge.
• Fold over and seal with a fork.
• ***Pies may be frozen at this point.
• Fry frozen or thawed pies in a skillet of hot oil(preferred Crisco at 375 degrees in cast iron skillet) until golden brown.
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
• Can be eaten as is (preferred)or sprinkle with powdered sugar, lightly.
• Enjoy! ;).

FRIED PIE PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine egg and water, and sprinkle lightly over flour mixture. Add vinegar, and lightly stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape into a ball.
• Wrap dough in wax paper. Chill for at least one hour. Use as directed in any fried pie recipe.

FRIED PIE CRUST

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into circles. Make circles at least 4". Fill pastry with 1 heaping tablespoon prepared fruit. Fold circle in half, seal edges with fork if you don't have plastic utensils for making pot stickers and the like. Fry until golden brown in about 1/4" canola oil. Great served hot or cold.