Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup shortening
1/3 cup cold water
1 teaspoon almond extract

Preparation

Make a paste from your cold water, 1/3 cup of your all purpose flour and almond extract.
Cut shortening into your remaining flour and salt until you have small dime sized lumps. Add your paste to the shortening/flour mixture. Work together into a ball. Separate into two equal balls. Well-flour a smooth surface and roll out one of your dough balls into a round crust.
Do NOT overwork this dough -- it will be fairly sticky so make sure to flour your rolling pin as well.
If you are making a fruit pie, this recipe will make your top and bottom crust. If you are baking a crust to form later, after forming your crust, lay into a pie pan, press into the bottom of the pan, and finish your edges as you like. Poke the bottom of the crust with a fork to keep bubbles from forming in the crust and bake for 12 - 13 minutes in a 425 oven or until beginning to brown. You can also brush the edges of your crust with an egg wash to create a shiny browned appearance.