Basic Sweet Pastry - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. presifted flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/4 c. butter
1 beaten egg
2 Tbsp. cold water

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450\u00b0.
Blend or sift together flour, sugar and salt; cut in finely shortening and butter.
Combine egg and cold water and sprinkle over flour mixture and toss lightly with a fork to make a soft dough.
Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 6 or 7 times.
Roll to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into 4 inch rounds and line medium sized muffin cups or tart pans with the pastry.
(Or place over inverted muffin cups, pleating to make pastry fit smoothly.)
Prick the pastry.
Bake in preheated 450\u00b0 oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Cool.
Fill as desired.
This makes 12 to 14 medium-sized shells.