Basic Flaky Pie Crust
(Submitted by Vickie Ross)
Directions
Whisk the flour, sugar and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the soft butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixtures with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together.
Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling. Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate. Fill with desired filling and bake.
Pie crust should not be sticky, gummy, tough, or soggy. To make it light, flaky and hold together well is not really difficult but it takes a bit of practice to make perfect. The actual making of the dough is so simple and quick that once you master it, you'll never go back to premade crusts again.