The proportions are nice in this pastry dough, with just the right ratio of flour to shortening to water. Everything incorporates perfectly and the dough is easy to roll out. This recipe for flaky, tender crust doubles well and freezes nicely.
INGREDIENTS (for 1 servings):
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold water
PREPARATION:
Mix shortening, flour, and salt together with a fork or a pastry blender until very crumbly. Add as much water as needed to hold together, and mix lightly with a fork. To double this recipe, use 1 cup shortening, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup cold water.
Roll gently, one crust at a time, on a floured pastry cloth, to about an inch larger than pie plate. Fold carefully in half. Lift to pie plate, and unfold. Fit into pan. For a single-crust pie, trim with a small knife to about 1/2 inch beyond rim. Fold up, and pinch so edge of pie is raised from rim. For a two-crust pie, trim bottom crust to edge of rim, fill, and top with crust about 1/2 inch larger than rim. Tuck top crust under bottom along rim. Seal with floured fork.