Chef's Choice: The perfect pie crust

Her hands are seasoned artists - experienced, yet inquisitive; light, yet assertive; quick, yet attentive. They know exactly how to shape and shift five simple ingredients into the creation of a work of art. They roll the dough with delicate precision and set it in the pie plate with the nonchalance of an expert.

Flour, eggs, shortening, salt and water have somehow been fashioned into a soft and smooth disc that will be strong enough to form the foundation of her masterpiece, yet also soft, flaky, buttery and meltingly delicious. Her work is somehow moving. She must have practiced this motion for a lifetime of holidays, decades of...