Recipe: Bacon and bourbon pie crust

Bacon and bourbon pie crust Total time: 20 minutes, plus chilling and freezing times for the dough and shell Servings: Makes crust for 1 (9-inch) standard pie shell Note: Refrigerate the dough at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to give the dough sufficient time to relax; otherwise, it may toughen and shrink while baking. If using shortening instead of the bacon grease, increase the salt by 1/4 teaspoon (to 3/4 teaspoon). For a nice sheen, brush the crust with egg white before baking. 1 1/2 cups (6.4 ounces) flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons sugar 3 tablespoons cold bacon grease or shortening, cut into 3 pieces 5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1/2 -inch cubes 2 tablespoons cold bourbon 2 tablespoons ice water, more as needed 1. To make the dough using a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt and sugar until thoroughly combined. Add the bacon grease and pulse until incorporated (the dough will look like moist sand). Add the butter and pulse just until the butter is reduced to small, pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle the bourbon and water over the mixture, and pulse once or twice until incorporated. Remove the crumbly mixture to a large bowl and gently press the mixture together with a large spoon, rubber spatula or the palm of your hand just until it comes together to form a dough. Mold the dough into a disc roughly 6 inches in diameter. Cover the disc tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. To make the dough by hand, whisk together the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Add the bacon grease and incorporate using a pastry cutter or fork (the dough will look like moist sand). Cut in the butter just until it is reduced to small, pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle the bourbon and water over the mixture, and stir together just until incorporated. Gently press the crumbly mixture together with a large spoon, rubber spatula or the palm of your hand just until it comes together to form a dough. Mold the dough into a disc roughly 6 inches in diameter. Cover the disc tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into a round roughly 13 inches in diameter. Place in a 9-inch baking dish, crimping the edges as desired. Freeze the formed shell for 20 to 30 minutes before filling and baking. Each of 8 servings: 204 calories; 3 grams protein; 19 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 12 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 24 mg. cholesterol; 1 gram sugar; 154 mg. sodium.