If vinegar was used, she probably used a lard-based dough. I make one that
I got from "The Pastry Bible"
1 1/3 c all purpose flour
1/2 c (cut into 1 tbsp size chunks) very cold lard
1/2tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

whiz these around in a food processor briefly - until lard is pea sized
pieces.

1/4 c ice water
2 tsp vinegar

drizzle in, while intermittently whizzing the flour mixture in the food
processor (the key is to not over process the lard, thus keeping "pockets"
of animal fat in the dough which will make it flaky)

Add more ice water if it's too crumbly

gather the dough into a ball, then flatten the ball, wrap and refrigerate
for at least 1 hour and up to a day or 2.

After rolling out and forming your pastries, let the dough rest again in the
fridge for 30 minutes to avoid it shrinking.

*the key to good pie crust is patience (let it rest and be careful not to
overmix) and having your ingredients and tools ice cold

However: most tarts are made with a dough that includes egg yolk and some
sugar, so perhaps you should lean in that direction. Search "pate sucre" on
google.

"OhSojourner" > wrote in message
...
> Hello,
>
> Years ago, my grandmother used to bake what was like a cross between a pie
and
> a tart, using pie filling sandwiched between two rounds of pastry with an
open
> hole on top. Unfortunately she's passed away, but this year I tried
making
> some of these tarts on my own. I tried using a regular pie crust recipe
and
> that didn't work. I tried asking my relatives if they had the recipe for
the
> dough, and they gave me only a vague measure-by-eye summary, and that
didn't
> work, either -- it came out too bland-tasting. The only thing they seemed
to
> remember was that vinegar was used as an ingredient.
>
> From what I remember, the tart pastry was similar to a pie crust, only
softer,
> chewier, and more flavorful. ...Perhaps sort of like kolache pastry (only
not
> puffed or layered) -- something that would enhance the flavor of the
filling.
> Would anyone have a recipe for a pastry that would match this description?