LC Pie Crust Thread

[theislandgirl]

Fortunately, the main lard supplier company up here in Canada "saw the light" about half a year ago, and now proudly labels their lard "NON hydrogenated" -- and I can finally buy it again, in just a regular grocery store...your time will come, keep up those market pressures by not buying into the hydrogenates...

Meanwhile, it may be helpful, I have found in the health food stores a "Vegan Shortening" which is palm oil based. Works dandy.

ps: I have found just using lard instead of veg shortening ("crisco" is in every recipe, I swear!) or switching out to half butter, I need to reduce the total fat, too, or it's a bit "greasy", even in KevinPA's "green can crisco" recipes...by the way, I've never seen green can crisco up here, I'm guessing they didn't even bother with the Canadian market. Tsk.

[Kevinpa]

Originally Posted by theislandgirl

even in KevinPA's "green can crisco"

I can no longer get the "green can crisco" since they started advertising all crisco as "0" trans fat. I am just glad I do not need to worry about trans fat at this point in my life.

[theislandgirl]

Yikes, don't know what happened there. Is there a moderator in the house that can cancel these duplicates?

Swear, I didn't do it!

[weasel!]

Originally Posted by Kevinpa

I can no longer get the "green can crisco" since they started advertising all crisco as "0" trans fat. I am just glad I do not need to worry about trans fat at this point in my life.

What are you going to use now instead of green can crisco?

[Kevinpa]

Originally Posted by weasel!

What are you going to use now instead of green can crisco?

vesna, all cisco claims 0 trans fat now. I'm really not to worried about it personally since my blood work is good and my Dr. tells me unless I'm eating it with a spoon its not a big deal....so any old crisco is what I use now.

[Cricket4t]

Bumping!

I want to finish reading this thread but don't have time right now and don't want to loose it.
Cricket

[weasel!]

Cricket, you can subscribe to a thread, using the drop-down menu under Thread Tools. Then you can use the drop-down menu under Quick Links to view all your subscribed threads whenever you want to come back to a thread, so's you don't lose track of what you wanted to read.

[Cricket4t]

Originally Posted by weasel!

Cricket, you can subscribe to a thread, using the drop-down menu under Thread Tools. Then you can use the drop-down menu under Quick Links to view all your subscribed threads whenever you want to come back to a thread, so's you don't lose track of what you wanted to read.

Thanks Weasel, that will make it much easier!!
Cricket

[Kevinpa]

Originally Posted by Kevinpa

1/3 c. + 1 T. shortening (I used crisco green with no trans fats)
3/4 c. Carbalose flour
1/4 c. resistant wheat starch
2 T. + 1 t. cold water
Cut shortening into flour until the particles are like small peas.
Sprinkle in water, 1 T. at a time tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry is clinging to the side of the bowl.

Roll out between 2 lightly dusted(WPI) sheets of wax paper.


Prick crust all over with a fork and bake 350° for 16 min.

In this following picture you can see the layers of flakiness in this LC crust. Counting 8 serving it adds only 2.25 carbs for a single crust and 4.5 carbs for a double crust pie. You can easily compare the taste to any high or low carb crust.

Originally Posted by Bfranke

but, have you tried it with your LC flour mix? Just curious.
Bette

Bette, your question peaked my curiosity so I decided to try my flour mix this morning on a single crust for experimentation.

1/3 c. + 1 T. crisco shortening
1 cup cake or cookie flour mix
2 T. + 1 t. cold water

Cut shortening into flour until the particles are like small peas.
Sprinkle in water, 1 T. at a time tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry is clinging to the side of the bowl.

I didn't roll out the dough, rather I then took the pie crust dough and spread it out and into the pie plate using my finger tips. (I often do this with single crust pies since it is much simpler.)

I then poked fork holes in the bottem of the crust to release air bubbles during baking.

I preheated my oven to 350 degrees and baked the crust for 18 minutes.
As you can see in the picture of the baked crust I may have let it go 1 minute too long by the one darker spot on the crust. The next time 17 minutes will be plenty. BTW, the crust was by no means burnt.

First, using this mix cut the carb count in half to 1.125 carb each for 8 servings.

I have to say, although I love my original crust, I am throughly impressed with the taste and texture of this crust. I will be making several savory and fruit one and two crust pies using this crust to be sure it will hold up to the filling but with these preliminary results I am quite certain that this will become my LC crust of choice.

[Bfranke]

Thanks Kevin. I have 4 mixed crusts in the freezer, but may try this next time I need to make some. Having your flour mix ready to go is pretty darn handy.
Bette

[Kevinpa]

BTW, since I had a crust and no breakfast.

How about a savory 2 carb Egg and Pastry Breakfast. Yummo!!

[Bfranke]

Gosh, looks good to me!
Bette

[magnamater]

Hats off, Kev, for the pastry with the mix. . .BTW, your crust was da bomb to begin with!!! So versatle.

[rexsreine]

Kevin, this looks great and I know the flavor is excellent, too. Do you think the dough could be rolled out so circles for pocket pies or strips for a lattice top could be cut?

Thanks, Ginny

[Kevinpa]

Originally Posted by rexsreine

Kevin, this looks great and I know the flavor is excellent, too. Do you think the dough could be rolled out so circles for pocket pies or strips for a lattice top could be cut?

Thanks, Ginny

Ginny, the dough had a nice feel to it. Its ability to be rolled out and cut would depend on knowing what the dough should feel like controled by the liquid content. My guess is you could make the lattice with no problem but I am thinking that the pocket pies would work if you kept them small but typically pocket pie dough is supposed to be a little bit different consistancy. Most likely a slightly different recipe with a tad more flour and dairy for your liquid. I am quite certain though that the flour mix itself would work well.

HTH

[rexsreine]

Thanks, Kevin.

Ginny

[jackieba]

Kevin, I love your regular pie crust--how does this compare in flakiness?

[Kevinpa]

Originally Posted by jackieba

Kevin, I love your regular pie crust--how does this compare in flakiness?

Not as flakey but almost.

I decided to do a side by side compare late this week or weekend with two zucchini pies. That will tell me better.

[stephdray]

This week I mixed up about 8 cups of Kevin's LC Cake and Cookie Flour Mix and I mixed a cannister of Erythritol/Splenda Quick Pack/Sweet One blend in Scott's proportions (I'll have to use 2/3 cups of this in place of 1 cup sugar, so the math conversions there ought to be fun.)

Anyway, once I had two blends I'm happy with, ready to use for baking the first thing I thought of was trying to make it into a crust. I'm going to try to use Kevin's recipe and I'm also going to try to convert Martha Stewart's pate sucree recipe. If Kevin's crust is better, Martha ought to give up her empire.

[stephdray]

So, here are my experiments from last night. The first crust I made was Kevin's low carb pie crust recipe, the original in this thread, using the new cookie and cake flour mix. The result was very tasty, but more crumbly than I had expected, and also more like a savory crust than a pie crust. But it was too good to waste, so I turned it into a delicious quiche:



Next, I tried using Kevin's low carb cake and cookie flour mix with Martha Stewart's pate sucree recipe. Her recipe called for the dough to be mixed in a food processor, and for the addition of an egg yolk. The result looked beautiful, so I turned it into an apple pie (using Lucky Leaf Lite Splenda Sweetened Apples):





Unfortunately, it looked better than it tasted. It was bitter, crumbly, thick, had the consistency of overcooked biscuits and was basically inedible.

I'm not sure what happened here. It might have been the overmixing in the food processor, but I think it was actually the egg yolk.

You see, quite accidentally, I had mixed up another batch of Martha's pate sucree recipe and forgot to add the egg yolk. That crust, without the egg yolk, turned out very well, and I filled it with low carb chocolate mousse and covered it with whipped topping. I wish I got a photo of it, but I ended up bringing it to a party and leaving it there.

For the last crust experiment of the day, I made Kevin's original recipe with carbalose and used Kevin's directions to the letter except for adding 2 tablespoon sugar equivalent (in my case, an ace-k, erythritol, splenda quick pack combo). This crust was in tight competition with the crust that became a chocolate mousse pie. I'm not sure which one is better, but they would both probably fool a non-dieter.

If any of you are not fooled, however, I highly recommend adding a heat stable sweetener for non-savory dishes. It seemed to make a big difference in the final product.

[Barbara Ray]

Originally Posted by stephdray

So, here are my experiments from last night. The first crust I made was Kevin's low carb pie crust recipe, the original in this thread, using the new cookie and cake flour mix. The result was very tasty, but more crumbly than I had expected, and also more like a savory crust than a pie crust. But it was too good to waste, so I turned it into a delicious quiche:



Next, I tried using Kevin's low carb cake and cookie flour mix with Martha Stewart's pate sucree recipe. Her recipe called for the dough to be mixed in a food processor, and for the addition of an egg yolk. The result looked beautiful, so I turned it into an apple pie (using Lucky Leaf Lite Splenda Sweetened Apples):





Unfortunately, it looked better than it tasted. It was bitter, crumbly, thick, had the consistency of overcooked biscuits and was basically inedible.

I'm not sure what happened here. It might have been the overmixing in the food processor, but I think it was actually the egg yolk.

You see, quite accidentally, I had mixed up another batch of Martha's pate sucree recipe and forgot to add the egg yolk. That crust, without the egg yolk, turned out very well, and I filled it with low carb chocolate mousse and covered it with whipped topping. I wish I got a photo of it, but I ended up bringing it to a party and leaving it there.

For the last crust experiment of the day, I made Kevin's original recipe with carbalose and used Kevin's directions to the letter except for adding 2 tablespoon sugar equivalent (in my case, an ace-k, erythritol, splenda quick pack combo). This crust was in tight competition with the crust that became a chocolate mousse pie. I'm not sure which one is better, but they would both probably fool a non-dieter.

If any of you are not fooled, however, I highly recommend adding a heat stable sweetener for non-savory dishes. It seemed to make a big difference in the final product.

You were one busy "baker"!!! I have had really GOOD success with Kevin's pie crust as originally written and have served it on several occasions to "normal" people with nothing but praise. I haven't felt the need to "experienment" further. When I bake a fruit filled pie rather than a second crust I use the "weave" technique - which allows for more of the fruit flavor to come through rather than too much crust.

I did note in your picture that it looked like you used a counter top convection oven. Did you? If so - could you PLEASE give me some "tips" on the usage - I just purchased one and unfortunately the "instruction" book that came with it leaves a lot to be desired.

Thanks!

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by Barbara Ray

You were one busy "baker"!!! I have had really GOOD success with Kevin's pie crust as originally written and have served it on several occasions to "normal" people with nothing but praise. I haven't felt the need to "experienment" further. When I bake a fruit filled pie rather than a second crust I use the "weave" technique - which allows for more of the fruit flavor to come through rather than too much crust.

Kevin's original pie crust recipe using the combined cake and cookie flour dough was very good under the quiche. I think the texture of his original recipe using carbalose flour and wheat resistant starch may have been better, but I didn't end up doing a direct head-to-head match b/c my family always put sugar into pie crusts, so it was like comparing savory to sweet crusts and I find that tricky. They're kind of different animals. Either way, this is a winner.

What is the "weave" technique?

I did note in your picture that it looked like you used a counter top convection oven. Did you? If so - could you PLEASE give me some "tips" on the usage - I just purchased one and unfortunately the "instruction" book that came with it leaves a lot to be desired.

Thanks!

It's a countertop toaster oven. I like to bake in it because it heats up the house less and my own oven runs hot by about 25 degrees which is really aggravating when I'm trying to bake a new recipe. I wish I could give you some tips, but I'm still learning it myself!

[Barbara Ray]

Originally Posted by stephdray

Kevin's original pie crust recipe using the combined cake and cookie flour dough was very good under the quiche. I think the texture of his original recipe using carbalose flour and wheat resistant starch may have been better, but I didn't end up doing a direct head-to-head match b/c my family always put sugar into pie crusts, so it was like comparing savory to sweet crusts and I find that tricky. They're kind of different animals. Either way, this is a winner.

What is the "weave" technique?



It's a countertop toaster oven. I like to bake in it because it heats up the house less and my own oven runs hot by about 25 degrees which is really aggravating when I'm trying to bake a new recipe. I wish I could give you some tips, but I'm still learning it myself!

Thanks - I guess I'll just have to do my sharing of "experimenting". I made brownies the other day - and put the heat down about 25 degrees and checked from time to time - it appeared that it took about 5 minutes less time as well. They were "real" brownies - I was making them to take to a friend. Tonight I'm going to try making Kevin's LC biscuits in the oven - I'll let you know how they turn out.

Weaving is just cutting strips of the pastry and layering them by placing one strip across one way - another the opposite way and continuing in that manner getting a "weaved" pattern. I generally cut the strips with a pastry cutter.

[Barbara Ray]

Originally Posted by Barbara Ray

Thanks - I guess I'll just have to do my sharing of "experimenting". I made brownies the other day - and put the heat down about 25 degrees and checked from time to time - it appeared that it took about 5 minutes less time as well. They were "real" brownies - I was making them to take to a friend. Tonight I'm going to try making Kevin's LC biscuits in the oven - I'll let you know how they turn out.

Weaving is just cutting strips of the pastry and layering them by placing one strip across one way - another the opposite way and continuing in that manner getting a "weaved" pattern. I generally cut the strips with a pastry cutter.

Hi,

I just took my biscuits out of the convection oven - I baked them at 425 and let them bake one minute TOO long - should have taken them out at 5 minutes instead - they looked GREAT (like a "picture") - but I figured one more minute wouldn't hurt - well they got just a little bit too brown on top - I'm sure they'll taste just fine. The recipe calls for a temp of 500 and baking time of 10 mins.

[kayecat]

Can you please give me the portions for Scott123's sugar replacement? My computer crashed.

[Kisal]

Is this the one you mean?

Scott123's Basic Sugar Sub

For each cup of sugar use:

2/3 C. polyd
1/3 C. granular erythritol
1/3 C. granular splenda (or liquid equivalent)
1 packet Sweet One ace k

Note: Scott reported later that feedback regarding this sweetener was that this was NOT sweet enough. Play with these amounts to get the sweetness level you like, perhaps increasing the Splenda to 1/2 C.

[kayecat]

Thanks! I am thinking of doubling it and using one splenda quick pack. Has anyone tried this?

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by Kisal

Is this the one you mean?

Scott123's Basic Sugar Sub

For each cup of sugar use:

2/3 C. polyd
1/3 C. granular erythritol
1/3 C. granular splenda (or liquid equivalent)
1 packet Sweet One ace k

Note: Scott reported later that feedback regarding this sweetener was that this was NOT sweet enough. Play with these amounts to get the sweetness level you like, perhaps increasing the Splenda to 1/2 C.

Because of the special properties that polyd imparts to recipes, I've found myself mixing up a cannister of the erythritol, splenda, and ace k and using that to sweeten things adding poly-d as needed.

[stephdray]

Originally Posted by kayecat

Thanks! I am thinking of doubling it and using one splenda quick pack. Has anyone tried this?

There is a formula of Scott's with that too. Lemme find it:

Poly-D Formula #2
1 Splenda quick pack
1 C. erythritol
4 packets ace k
2 1/4 C. polyd

I believe this one measures out cup for cupful as sugar, but I'm not sure.

[mac24312]

Originally Posted by Kevinpa

Bette, your question peaked my curiosity so I decided to try my flour mix this morning on a single crust for experimentation.

1/3 c. + 1 T. crisco shortening
1 cup cake or cookie flour mix
2 T. + 1 t. cold water

Cut shortening into flour until the particles are like small peas.
Sprinkle in water, 1 T. at a time tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry is clinging to the side of the bowl.

I didn't roll out the dough, rather I then took the pie crust dough and spread it out and into the pie plate using my finger tips. (I often do this with single crust pies since it is much simpler.)

I then poked fork holes in the bottem of the crust to release air bubbles during baking.

I preheated my oven to 350 degrees and baked the crust for 18 minutes.
As you can see in the picture of the baked crust I may have let it go 1 minute too long by the one darker spot on the crust. The next time 17 minutes will be plenty. BTW, the crust was by no means burnt.

First, using this mix cut the carb count in half to 1.125 carb each for 8 servings.

I have to say, although I love my original crust, I am throughly impressed with the taste and texture of this crust. I will be making several savory and fruit one and two crust pies using this crust to be sure it will hold up to the filling but with these preliminary results I am quite certain that this will become my LC crust of choice.

How are these frozen? I am thinking about doing 3 of them in regular 9 inch pie pans and freezing them to make my pies with this weekend. Do they hold up well to either bake them and freeze them or either freeze them without baking them?

Thanks and HUGS
Christina