Rich and Velvety Custard Pie - 2003 1st Place Custard

Crust: Mix all the dry ingredients together and cut in the shortening to resemble course crumbs. Beat the remaining ingredients, except the egg white, together and add to flour. Stir only to incorporate. Wrap in plastic and chill for several hours. Roll out and line pie dish. Bake crust (halfway) in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Brush with an egg white and bake an additional 5 minutes. Filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Scald the milk and half-and-half. Mix together the eggs , sugar, salt and vanilla. Add the hot milk. Very carefully pour through a fine strainer and into the pie shell . Grate nutmeg over the top of the filling. Bake for 10 minutes on the bottom rack and then move to the middle rack and reduce the heat to 325 degrees F. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean or until the middle of the pie is almost set. It will continue to cook after it is taken out of the oven. Cool on a rack. A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The FN chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.