Helpful Hints

Sometimes Penelope likes to blind bake a few pie crusts at a time. But what to use for pie weights? She was never really crazy about the dried kidney bean solution. Or rice. Some of the grains always get baked into the dough. Sure, there are lots of fancy pie weights around, but they can get expensive. Then one day she heard about pie chains. Instead of pouring rice, beans or weights onto the dough, you coil a pie chain on the bottom of your crust. A pie chain is super-efficient at holding the crust flat as it bakes, and also easier to grab and lift out when it’s done. Just remember to use an oven mitt. Look for extra-long chains that give you more coverage. They’re reasonably priced and, in a pinch, can be doubled (or tripled) and used as a necklace over a drop-waist dress to make a flapper concept completely baked.