Pastry Dough

Directions

1. 1
   Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with rest in small (roughly pea-size) lumps.
2. 2
   Drizzle 4 tablespoons ice water evenly over and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.
3. 3
   Gently squeeze a small handful: It should hold together without crumbling apart.
4. 4
   If it doesn't, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) after each addition until incorporated, continuing to test.
5. 5
   (Do not overwork dough or it will become tough.)
6. 6
   Turn dough out onto a work surface and divide into 2 portions.
7. 7
   With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat.
8. 8
   Gather each portion of dough and form it, rotating on a work surface, into a disk.
9. 9
   Wrap disks separately in wax paper and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.