Latticed Rhubarb Pie
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest (from about 2 medium oranges)
1/8 teaspoon fine salt
2 pounds rhubarb stalks, ends trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 1/2 medium orange)
2 recipes
Directions:
Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Set a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil on the rack while the oven is heating.
Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, zest, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Add the rhubarb and orange juice and stir until the rhubarb is well coated; set aside while you roll out the dough.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the slightly larger disk of dough to about 13 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. (Don’t worry if the dough cracks—just press it back together.) Line a 9-1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate with the dough and trim it to leave a 1-inch overhang.
Stir the rhubarb filling to reincorporate any accumulated juices in the bottom of the bowl. Pour the filling into the prepared pie plate and spread it into an even layer. Scatter the butter pieces over the filling; set aside.
Roll out the remaining disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to about 12 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. Cut it into 12 (1-inch-wide) strips. Brush the overhang of the crust in the pie plate with a thin layer of the milk, half-and-half, or cream.
To begin the vertical part of the lattice, you will need 6 of the dough strips. Pick up every other strip (this ensures that you’ll have matching lengths for both the vertical and horizontal lattices) and lay them evenly spaced vertically across the filling, placing the longest strip near the center of the pie. Pull every other strip toward you, gently folding it in half back onto itself.
To begin the horizontal part of the lattice, use the remaining 6 dough strips. Lay the longest strip horizontally slightly above the center of the pie. Unfold the folded vertical strips over the horizontal strip. Fold the strips that are now under the horizontal strip back toward you over the first horizontal strip.
Place a second strip horizontally about 1/2 inch above the first. Unfold the folded vertical strips to cover the second horizontal strip. Fold the ones that are now under the second strip back toward you. Repeat with a third strip horizontally about 1/2 inch above the second horizontal strip so that about half of the pie is now woven.
Return to the center and fold the vertical strips that are under the longest horizontal strip up toward the woven half of the pie. Place a horizontal strip about 1/2 inch below the longest strip on the unwoven side of the pie. Unfold the folded vertical strips over the horizontal strip. Fold the strips that are under the horizontal strip over the woven part of the pie.
Repeat with a horizontal strip about 1/2 inch below the last strip. Unfold the folded vertical strips to cover the strip. Fold the strips that are under the horizontal strip over the woven part of the pie. Finish with the final strip about 1/2 inch below the last horizontal strip so that the pie is now completely woven.
Trim the overhanging strips flush with the edges of the pie and, using your fingers or the back of a fork, crimp the dough to seal. Brush the top and edges of the pie with a thin layer of the remaining milk, half-and-half, or cream.
Place the pie on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling, about 1 hour. Remove the pie to a wire rack and cool completely before serving, at least 2 hours.
Flaky Pie Dough
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1/4 cup shortening, frozen and cut into small pieces
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
3 to 4 tablespoons ice water
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions:
Whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the shortening and butter and toss with your fingers until well coated in the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut the shortening and butter into the dry ingredients until reduced to pea-size pieces, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Drizzle in 3 tablespoons of the ice water and the lemon juice and mix just until the dough comes together. (Add the last tablespoon of ice water if the dough is too dry, but don’t overwork the dough or it’ll become tough.)
Form the dough into a flat disk. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before rolling it out.
Recipe shared from: http://www.chow.com/recipes/30329-latticed-rhubarb-pieFlaky Pie Dough (see recipe below), formed into 2 disks, one slightly larger than the other
All-purpose flour, for rolling out the dough
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), cut into small pieces
2 teaspoons whole milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream