Instructions: Q. The word "shortening" always confuses me. Is it

"butter," "margarine," "lard" or something like

"Crisco"?

A. All of the above - technically. Shortening, in its most generic meaning, is any fat or oil that is used to make a short crust or dough (one that has a high ratio of fat to flour, and turns out tender, crumbly, and rich). In general usage, when you see the word shortening as an ingredient in a recipe, the author is referring to vegetable shortening, of which Crisco is the best-known brand.

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