My sister-in-law told me my pie crust was tough and I got defensive at first

She wasn't wrong. I had been making pie crust the same way for 15 years, using a food processor and ice water. She watched me one Thanksgiving and said 'you're overworking the dough, stop being so aggressive.' I thought she was being picky but I tried her method anyway - mix the fat in by hand until you see big pea-sized chunks, then add water a spoonful at a time. First pie after that, the crust was actually flaky. I don't mind admitting she was right now. Has anyone else had a family member call out a bad habit in the kitchen that you didn't want to hear?

2 comments

2 Comments

jason5628d ago

My mom finally broke down and told me my gravy tasted like salty wallpaper paste. That stung for about five minutes until I realized she was right. I'd been dumping flour straight into hot drippings without any kind of slurry and wondering why it clumped up like concrete. Now I whisk the flour with cold stock first and actually measure salt instead of just shaking it in blind. It's humbling when your own mother has to gently tell you that your signature dish is better off left unsigned.

brooke5339d ago

And then it turns into this whole thing where you realize you've been doing it wrong for years and your ego just didn't want to hear it. My mom used to tell me I was overmixing my meatloaf until it got dense and dry, and I'd just roll my eyes at her. Finally tried her way last summer where you barely mix it and let it rest more before baking, and I couldn't believe the difference. It's funny how we get so stuck in our ways that we forget the people who taught us probably know a thing or two still. What's the biggest kitchen habit you had to unlearn?