1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1/3 cup shortening or lard3 to 4 tablespoons cold waterIn a mixing bowl stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening or lard till pieces are the size of small peas.
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push to side of bowl. Repeat till all is moistened. Form dough into a ball.
On a lightly floured surface, flatten dough with hands. Roll dough from center to edges, forming a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Wrap pastry around rolling pin. Unroll onto a 9 inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry.
Trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate; fold under extra pastry. Make a fluted, rope-shape, or scalloped edge. Do not pick pastry. Bake as directed in individual recipes
Microwave Pastry for Single-Crust Pie: In a mixing bowl stir tiogether flour, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and salt. Prepare, roll and trim pastry as above. Prick bottum and sides generously with the tines of a fork. Prick where bottom and sides meet all around pie shell.
Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 5 to 7 minutes or till pastry is dry and air bubbles form, giving dish a quarter-turn once. Cool on a wire rack Use in recipes calling for a baked pastry shell.
Baked Pastry Shell: Prepare as above, except prick bottom and sidesof pastry generously with the tines of a fork. Prick where bottom and sides meet all aroundpie shell. Bake in a 450 degreesoven for 10 to 12 minutes or till golden. Cool on a wire rack.
Pecan Pastry: Prepare as above, except before adding water, stir 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans into flour ,mixture.
Cocoa Pastry: Prepare as above, except stir 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons sugar in with the flour and salt. Increase shortening to 1/2 cup.
Cinnamon Pastry: Prepare as above, except stir 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in with the flour and salt.
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Use a pastry blender to cut in the shortening or lard till the pieces are the size of small peas.
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Loosely unroll pastry from the rolling pin, easing it into the pie plate. Avoid stretching the pastry.
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Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under the extra pastry to build up the edge.