The hardest part of making an apple pie is achieving a flaky pie crust with perfect proportions of fat and flour, but ready-made pastry crust gets the crust right every time. Rolled or folded pie crusts are usually sold in packs of two so you have a bottom crust for the pie plate and a top crust to cover the apples.

Your microwave oven can be useful for more than just heating a cup of coffee or a bag of frozen vegetables. For something new, try using it the next time you make pie crust. Use a recipe specifically for microwave cooking or, if you prefer, use store-bought crusts or your favorite pie crust recipe.

Underdone, soggy pie crust can put a damper on an otherwise tasty dessert. Crusts get soggy because the filling, usually fruit, releases juices, keeping the dough from getting crispy even as the pie bakes; pie shells under creamy custards also may remain soggy after baking.

When you smell blueberry pie, you might experience warm, sentimental feelings as you remember eating dessert with your loved ones at a family gathering, around the dinner table. One slice, or one-sixth of an 8-inch pie, contains 271 calories. The calorie count would be higher if the pie is served with ice cream.