My sister said my pie crust was 'sad' at a family dinner in Akron.

I was proud of my apple pie, but she poked the crust and said it felt like cardboard. She told me to use vodka instead of water next time for a flaky crust. I tried her tip the next day and it was a total game changer. Has anyone else had a baking tip from a family member that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

bennett.patricia1mo ago

Family recipes are full of those quiet secrets. My grandma always swore by a pinch of sugar in her spaghetti sauce to cut the acid, and I rolled my eyes until I tried it. It's funny how the older generation just has these little fixes they don't even think are special. They've done the trial and error so we don't have to. That vodka crust trick is a perfect example of that hidden knowledge getting passed along.

phoenix3311mo ago

Oh man, @bennett.patricia, you're so right. I argued with my aunt for years about putting mayo on a grilled cheese outside. Said it was gross. Totally wrong. It makes it golden and crisp every single time. She just shrugged like it was obvious. Makes you wonder what other little kitchen fixes we're all still fighting against. Gotta swallow our pride and just listen.

dylan6041mo ago

Dude, my buddy swore by putting ice cubes in his slow cooker for better pulled pork, sounded nuts but actually worked lol.