Final answer:
The kind of dough used for a house potpie is typically a flaky pastry dough, characterized by its buttery, crisp, and tender layers. This can be inferred from the passage where Sarah Penn takes care in baking pies that are flaky and well-crafted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of dough typically used for a house potpie, specifically in reference to the passage provided where Sarah Penn makes pies for her family, would be a flaky pastry dough. This flaky pastry is known for its layers that are achieved through the process of rolling out and folding the dough with butter, leading to a texture that is crisp and tender when baked.
Given the context of the story, it is safe to assume the dough for the potpie would be similar to the flaky pastry dough used for mince-pies that Sarah prepared with such dedication. The character in the excerpt expresses meticulous care in baking, suggesting that the pastry would be made with attention to the technique required for flaky results.
Ingredients such as flour, salt, and butter are key to creating the tender and flaky texture that is desired in a good potpie crust. Even though the passage does not mention the specific steps and ingredients for the pie dough, these are commonly incorporated into a flaky pastry dough recipe meant for potpies and similar baked goods.