NEVER-FAIL PASTRY MIX

6 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
1-pound can vegetable shortening

1. Sift flour and salt together into a large bowl.
2. Drop shortening into the mixture by spoonfuls and with a pastry blender or two knives, cut it into the flour mixture until the mixture is crumbly. Stop when the mixture still looks coarse---do not let become smooth. If you know exactly how the mixture should look, you can perform this step with a food processor, but be careful not to process to long.
3. Store pastry mix in a tightly sealed container on the pantry shelf in medium to cool weather for 1 to 3 months. If the weather is very warm or humid, it is better to keep this mixture in the refrigerator. Let it warm to room temperature and re crumble a bit if necessary, before using.

Pie Crust

To   make a single pie crust, you will need:

2 cups Pastry mix
2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

1. Toss the mix and ice water gently until the mixture begins to stick together

2. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface---Formica, marble or a cutting board---and gently roll out a circle to fit your pie pan. Some people use a pastry cloth or a square clean muslin to cover the area they are working on, roll the pastry out right on the cloth, and then lift the cloth and pastry, turn it upside down into the pan, and peel the cloth away.
3. As you lift the dough into the pan, remember that tears can be repaired with a bit of water and a small piece of dough, or you could remove the holey , inadequate crust, knead   it back together and   try again. The more you knead, however, the tougher the pie crust will become, so practice until you have a light sure touch.

Roll-up Treats

Left over pie crust dough, uncooked and rolled out

1 teaspoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon Cinnamon Sugar

1. To make treats for your family, simply spread any leftover piecrust dough with butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, cut into strips and roll up.
2. Bake a long with the pie. The oven cooks these little treats in half the time, so when you check your pie after 10 minutes or so, viola! You have finished roll-up  Treats for impatient children.

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