Flaky Pie Crust Recipe

Touring the gourmet shops at San Francisco's Ferry Building, my sister pointed out squares of papered lard. She said the cooks were using lard in pie crusts. Our family uses oil or shortening. But in these days when hydrogenated fats from cottonseed oil have been labeled health risks and in some areas banned, it's time to return to the basics. So here's a recipe that omits all cottonseed oil.

2 cups all purpose flour (chilled for an hour)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/3 cup butter, unsalted
1/3 cup lard
5 to 6 tablespoons of icy cold water

Mix flour with salt and sugar in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender cut in the butter and lard.
Add ice water mixing with a fork until pastry comes together in peas. Do not over mix. With clean hands form into a ball and cut in two pieces. Form each
into a round flat disc and refrigerate for 1 hour. Then place the pastry disk on a floured surface. Put paper on top and roll out crust to one inch circle beyond the rim of your pie pan. Carefully remove paper and place in pan.

Graham Cracker Brownies (two sizes)
You get the party size and personal pan size!
Honey Maid Original Graham Crackers are recommended.

For a 9 x 13 pan mix together:
4 cups of crushed graham crackers
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cans Sweetened Condensed Milk (1 regular and 1 light)
About 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Spread in the bottom of a greased pan.
Bake 350 degrees F (175 degrees F) for 25-30 minutes.
Cut and remove from pan while still warm. Cool on rack before storing.

For a 9-inch square pan mix together:
2 cups of crushed graham crackers
1 cup chocolate chips
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
About 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp of vanilla
Spread into the bottom of a greased pan.
Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes. Cut and remove from pan while still warm.
Cool cookies on rack before storing.

Hello Dolly Bars

My brother-in-law just made these. Hello Dolly was the name my mom-in- law called these cookies also known as seven layer bars. I think their showiness would capture any tycoon or pauper's heart.

Melt 1/2 cup of margarine
Add 2 cups of crushed graham crackers
Press into an 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle over that:
1 cup flaked coconut
6 oz package chocolate chips
6 oz package butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
Next pour over
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 30 minutes.
Cool on a rack, then cut into bars.