Pie Pastry

Martha Stewart Living, 2005

    2 1/2 cups flour                                               
    1 teaspoon sugar                                               
    1 teaspoon salt                                                
    12 tablespoons cold, unsalt butter cut to pieces               
    1/4 cup cold vegetable shortening                              
    1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar                           
    1/4-1/2 cup ice water                                          

Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and shortening; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 1O times.

With processor running, pour in vinegar, then 1/4 cup ice water; process just until dough comes together. (If dough is still crumbly, add up to 1/4 more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.)

Pat dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate dough until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. Dough can also be frozen up to 1 month; thaw completely in the refrigerator.