Lard!

There, I said it.
More, I did it.
Bought some lard.
When I've actually cooked with it, now... then ya got something, my friend.

Not yet decided, shall I try pie crust or biscuits...
One of my aunts made glorious biscuits, but with Crisco, i believe. She couldn't cook anything else worth a darn, but her biscuits are what are being served at the Heavenly Banquet, I do beleive.
It was her mother's or maybe grandmother's recipe, hand-written with measurements like "a handful of" and "a good spoonful full."
Oh, and "not as much as most."
She tried to teach me, unsuccessfully.

I've just been reading up on fats and such, although my Dearest Mother kept Crisco in the house when we were kids, afaik, it was only for greasing pans.

Her pie-crust, which was fantastic, was some Betty Crocker Illustrated Cookbook shortcut - using oil!

I have also been unsuccessful at replicating her culinary feats in that wise, though hope springs eternal (witness my purchase of lard...)

She baked beautifully, my childhood was full of sugar and love. Christmas is going to be very, very, very hard this year.