Recipe directions say pastry blender?

[shelleyd2008]

I'm sure I don't have one.

I'm assuming these are the same as 'pastry cutters'? Would something like a wire whisk or a potato smasher work?

 

[redhen]

What 'cha makin??

 

[shelleyd2008]

Pretzels

 

[shelleyd2008]

http://southernfood.about.com/od/appetizerbreads/r/bl30408u.htm

Here's the recipe, so you can understand better what it is asking for

 

[georgialee]

You can use a food processor to cut the butter in too.

 

[vtsarahb]

one of these will do the job very nicely
http://holybasil.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/pastry-cutter.jpg

if you don't have one, a potato smasher will work too

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Don't have a food processor, I doubt I would use one enough to justify buying it.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
That's what I know as a pastry cutter, what does a blender look like? So I'll be using the potato smasher then

ETA: I just googled it, and it looks like a cutter and a blender are the same things. Still don't have one

so I'll be trying the smasher

 

[saddina]

You can use 2 sharp knives to do it too, if you're confident enough in your knife skills.

 

[Judy]

My mother made the best pie crust I've ever had, and used two table knives to cut the fat into the flour, then crumbled it with her fingers. I'm lazy, I have a pastry cutter, but have done it with knives plenty of times.

She didn't own a whisk, either.