Pear Pie - Sunni West

Crust:
3 c all-purpose flour
1 t salt
2 T sugar
1/2 c vegetable shortening
8 T unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4" cubes
1 egg
1/3 c milk


Filling:
6 c peeled and sliced pears
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c flour
2 t almond extract
additional butter
milk

Preheat oven to 400°.

For the crust, mix together the flour, salt and sugar. Cut in the butter and shortening until it resembles course crumbs (food processor works great!). Mix milk with egg. Lightly incorporate the milk and egg mixture with the flour until the dough holds its shape. Form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Freeze for 1 hour. Roll into 2 circular portions of the dough.

For the filling, toss the pears with the flour and sugar. Add extract and mix thoroughly. Pour the filling in a 9" pie dish that has been lined with 1 portion of the dough and lightly washed with egg. Top the filling with generous dots of butter. Top with the second portion of dough and crimp edges. Wash the dough with egg (or milk) and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 20 minutes. Drop temperature to 325° and continue baking 35-40 minutes.