It's not a secret, all of our grandmother's and their grandmothers use lard. It is required for the best pie crust imho. And pork schnitzel tastes world's better when you fry in lard. The health lobby has done their best to move it to the back shelf.
don't tell my wife, but mine is hidden in the bottom of the fridge where she can't see it. fried chicken is moving up in the world! and the turkey bacon i'm eating to save money? fried in real bacon grease, lol...
