Flaky Pastry Dough

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t sugar
1 t salt
1 cup Crisco butter flavor shortening
1/2 cup cold water

Mix dry ingredients together. Break shortening into large chunks and add to the flour mixture. Cut the fat into the flour with a pastry blender until it is the consistency of coarse crumbs with a few pea-sized pieces.

Drizzle water over the flour and fat mixture. Using a rubber spatula, cut with the blade side until the mixture looks evenly moistened and begins to form small balls. Press down on the dough with the flat side of spatula. If the balls of dough don't stick together, drizzle a few more tablespoons of water over the top and mix in.

Form into a ball, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably several hours.

Makes one 9-inch covered pie crust.

Notes:

This is my favorite pastry recipe. It freezes well.