The key to pie is homemade crust. My specialty...
PIE CRUST RECIPE
(2 crusts - top and bottom)
2 2/3 c. flour
1 t. salt
1 stick Crisco shortening (1 cup)
6 T. cold water
Add all ingredients in large mixing bowl. Cut through mixture with two knives, until shortening is in small pieces. Use spatula to scrape bowl--squeeze mixture until it forms a ball. (Don't give up, it takes a while.) Cut ball in half, reform ball and lay on floured wax paper. (If you take a damp dishcloth and wipe the counter with it, the wax paper won't slip.) Roll out and sprinkle flour on top of dough to keep it from sticking to the rolling pin. Roll dough larger than pie plate. Flip dough with wax paper over pie plate, and remove paper. Center and contour to pie plate and pinch overhang, if making a 1-crust pie.
Prick sides and bottom with a fork.To keep crust flat, you can lay parchment paper cut to size on top of the bottom crust. Bake at 425 for ten to fifteen minutes, or until golden. You may have to cover the edges with foil to keep from over- browning. (Follow this procedure if you are making crust for a cream pie.)
For a one-crust pie like the pumpkin, DON'T prick the crust. Bake according to recipe.
For a two-crust pie, roll out bottom crust, form to pie plate. Pour in filling, roll out and put second crust on top. You should have about a 1 inch overhang of crust. If more than that, trim off some. Pinch top and bottom crusts together, make slits in top crust for steam to escape. I usually let the pie bake for a while according to directions, then when the crust is as golden as I would like it, cover the whole pie with a piece of foil that you've poked holes in.