Basic Pie Pastry

Crisp and flaky, this crust is good for custard, chiffon and fresh-fruit pies. For successful pastry making, keep these three tips in mind: Take care not to overblend the fat and flour, add enough water so the dough can be rolled out easily (better a bit too much water than not enough), and handle the pastry no more than necessary. Overblending, adding too little water and handling the pastry too much can make a crust tough. If you like the taste of butter, use it in place of shortening, or try a combination of butter and shortening, which will produce a firmer crust than one made with shortening only. Pastry made with butter must be refrigerated for at least 1 hour before being rolled out.