Flaky Pastry

(Shared recipe submitted by Teri Gostick.)

Teri writes: "Here is a recipe for flaky pastry for pies, tarts, etc. I have been using this recipe for years and it has never failed me yet."

Ingredients

• 5 to 5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• One pound lard (can use shortening)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, well beaten
• Ginger ale, refrigerated until cold

Place flour, salt and diced lard in a fairly large bowl. With a pastry cutter, blend the lard into the flour until it looks like peas or corn kernels. Put the egg in a large measuring cup and add enough very cold ginger ale to make one cup; whip well (this will foam up so use a deep enough container so you don't run over top of dish). Blend all the liquid into the flour and lard mixture, mix just until pastry pulls away from sides of bowl. Cut the dough into 4 equal portions and wrap each ball with plastic wrap. Chill about 2 hours.

To make pie, cut one ball in half and roll out to fit a 9 or 10-inch pie plate. Fill with pie filling. Roll top crust out and place on top. Seal well and remove excess dough from edges of plate. Flute and seal edges well. If desired, gently brush cream on top of pie, then cut steam holes in top crust. Bake according to your favorite recipe.

Notes: Unused dough can be frozen in individual portions until needed.

Disclaimer: This recipe was submitted by a contributor and has not been tested by TerisKitchen.com.