Puff Paste

Ingredients

• ½ pound pastry flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ pound butter
• ½ of an unbeaten egg white
• ice water

Directions

1. Sift the pastry flour and salt together, then set aside in a cool place.

2. Scald a bowl and fill it with ice or very cold water.

3. Wash your hands in warm soapy water, rinse in cold water, and work the butter until waxy.

4. Divide the butter into four pieces, pat each into a thin cake, and place on ice until firm.

5. Dust the board with some reserved flour, then make a hole in the center of the remaining flour.

6. Add the egg white and one pat of butter to the flour, then gradually mix in ice water to form a smooth, firm dough.

7. Knead the dough as if for bread, then cut it into two pieces and roll each to ¼ inch thick.

8. Distribute a second pat of butter over one piece of dough, cover with the other piece, and gently pat with a rolling pin.

9. Roll out the dough gradually, using flour to prevent the butter from breaking through, and chill if the dough warms up.