Dee, if you're using the same pan, same recipe, and same oven as always, then it sounds like maybe your lard has changed, which can happen. Like any product that started as a living thing (apples, rice, lard), there are bound to be variations due to climate, season, food, etc. If everything has remained the same except the lard, then you'd have to assume lard is at the bottom of it – unless your oven has started malfunctioning and you don't know it. Make sure you use an oven thermometer, and don't rely on the oven temperature dial, OK? PJH

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