Basic Pastry Recipe

Makes 1 9-inch pie crust

Ingredients:

  • For 1 8-inch crust:
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp shortening
  • 2 tbsp cold water, 2 to 3
  • For 1 9-inch crust:
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp shortening
  • 3 tbsp cold water, 3 to 4
  • For 1 10-inch crust:
  • 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3 tbsp cold water, 3 to 4

    • Instructions:

    1. Combine flour and salt in a bowl; cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.
    2. Sprinkle cold water (1 tablespoon at a time) evenly over surface; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened.
    3. Shape into a ball; chill.
    4. To fit into pieplate, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
    5. Place in a pieplate; trim off excess pastry along edges.
    6. Fold edges under and flute.
    7. For baked pastry shell, prick bottom and sides of pastry generously with a fork.
    8. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.