Basic Crust

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
• cut into pieces
• 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
• cut into pieces

Instructions

1. Pulse the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a food processor.
2. Add the shortening and one-third of the butter; pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal.
3. Add the remaining butter and pulse until it is the size of peas.
4. Add 1/4 cup ice water and pulse a few more times.
5. If the dough doesn't hold together when squeezed, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing.
6. Divide between 2 sheets of plastic wrap.
7. Pat into disks; wrap and chill at least 1 hour.