Raisin Squares Italian Bakery Style

This recipe comes from a local italian bakery shop. they are made with raisin filling or canned apple pie filling also. give them a try.

Wash raisins.

Add to the boiling water on low heat in saucepot.

Add remaining filling ingredients , salt , sugar , flour , juice , and cook just until thick.

Remove from heat and let cool well.

Crust:.

Mix egg with vanilla and add enough cream or whole milk to make one cup of liquid.

Combine remaining ingredients flour , sugar , salt , and lard and lifting to air and rub to make a coarse pea size crumb.

Add in liquid and just combine to make a ball of pastry.

Divide pastry into two.

Dust a board with the flour for rolling and roll one section to fit a 17 x 14 sided ungreased cookie sheet.

Spread on cooled raisin filling , or canned apple filling.

Roll second half of dough , and place nicely on the top , sealing edges.

Prick all over top with a fork and brush with more cream.

Sprinkle with granulated fine or coarse sugar over evenly.

Bake 350 for 25 minutes until golden.

lard, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, salt, baking powder, egg, vanilla, milk, flour, boiling water, raisins, fresh lemon juice