Well now, let’s talk about this here “dessert lattice”. I ain’t no fancy baker, mind you, but I know a thing or two about pies and such. My old grandma, she used to make the best apple pies, and they always had them pretty criss-cross thingies on top. We just called ’em “pie strips” back then, but I guess these city folks call it “lattice”. Sounds all highfalutin to me!
So, what is it, this “dessert lattice”? It’s just strips of dough, see? You roll out the dough, like you’re makin’ noodles, but a bit thicker. Then you cut it into strips, and you lay ’em across the top of your pie or whatever you’re bakin’. Not just straight across, though. You gotta weave ’em, like makin’ a basket, over and under, over and under. Makes it look all purty, you know?
Why do folks do it? Well, for starters, it looks nice. A plain pie, it’s just a pie. But a pie with a lattice top? That’s a fancy pie! Makes folks think you know what you’re doin’ in the kitchen, even if you’re just followin’ a recipe you found in an old magazine. And it ain’t just for looks, neither. Them strips of dough, they help hold the filling in, keep it from bubblin’ over all over your oven. Makes a mess, that does, and ain’t nobody got time for cleanin’ up a messy oven.
Now, I ain’t gonna lie, makin’ that lattice ain’t always easy. Them strips, they like to stick to your fingers, and sometimes they break. And if you ain’t careful, you end up with a mess of dough that looks like a dog’s breakfast. But don’t you fret none. It just takes a little practice. Even my old grandma, she messed up sometimes. She’d just cuss a little, pinch the dough back together, and keep on goin’. And nobody ever complained, ’cause even a messed-up pie from Grandma tasted better than anything you could buy at the store.
- Making the dough: You gotta have good dough, that’s the first thing. Not too sticky, not too dry. Just right. My old recipe just uses flour, some lard, a bit of salt, and cold water. Mix it up good, roll it out, and you’re ready to go.
- Cutting the strips: Use a sharp knife, or a pizza cutter works good too. Make ’em even, as best you can. But don’t worry too much if they ain’t perfect. Nobody’s gonna measure ‘em.
- Weaving the lattice: This is the tricky part. Lay some strips one way, then lay some strips the other way, weaving over and under. It’s like when you were a kid, making paper mats in school. Take your time, and don’t get flustered.
- Baking the pie: Once you got your lattice all done, pop that pie in the oven and bake it till it’s golden brown and bubbly. And then, the best part, you get to eat it!
Now, you don’t just gotta use this lattice on pies. You can put it on tarts, on cobblers, even on them fancy pot pies the city folks like. I seen some folks puttin’ it on fruit pizzas, though I ain’t sure how I feel about that. A pizza’s a pizza, and a pie’s a pie, in my book. But I guess you can do whatever you please. It’s your kitchen, ain’t it?
Is it hard? Well, like I said, it takes a little practice. But it ain’t rocket science. If an old woman like me can do it, you can do it too. And if you mess up, so what? It’ll still taste good. And ain’t that what really matters? A pretty pie is nice, but a tasty pie is better.
And don’t be fooled by all them fancy folks with their fancy tools. You don’t need no special equipment to make a dessert lattice. Just your hands, a rollin’ pin, a knife, and a little bit of elbow grease. That’s all my grandma ever used, and her pies were the talk of the whole county.
So, there you have it. That’s the lowdown on “dessert lattice” from an old gal who’s been bakin’ pies for longer than you’ve been alive. It ain’t complicated, it ain’t fancy, but it’s a good way to make a plain old dessert look a little bit special. Now go on and try it yourself. And don’t forget to share a slice with your neighbors!
Tags: [dessert, lattice, pie, pastry, baking, homemade, recipe, crust, techniques, tips]
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