Basic Pastry Dough

Directions

1. 1
   Mix the flour and salt in a bowl.
2. 2
   Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or two knives.
3. 3
   Mix lightly only until the mixture resembles coarse meal and some of the shortening remains the size of very tiny peas; the texture will not be uniform but will contain crumbs and small bits and pieces.
4. 4
   Sprinkle the water over the flour mixture 1 tablespoon at a time and mix lightly with a fork, using only enough water so the dough will hold together.
5. 5
   Press the dough together into a ball.
6. 6
   If there are dry places that dont adhere, sprinkle a little more water over them.