Plain Pie Crust

Ingredients

• 1 heaping cup pastry flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup butter, washed in cold water and chilled
• ¼ cup lard or vegetable shortening
• ¼ cup cold water (approximately)

Directions

1. Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder into a cold bowl.

2. Work the chilled butter and lard or shortening into the flour using your fingers or a knife until it resembles coarse meal.

3. Gradually add cold water, handling the dough lightly until it forms a cohesive mass.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness, keeping it slightly wider than long.

5. Place the chilled butter in the center of the lower half of the dough and fold the upper half over it.

6. Press the edges together to seal in as much air as possible.