Buttery Quiche Pastry Shell
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons shortening, cut into small pieces
4 1/2 tablespoons cold ice water
Instructions:
Place the flour, salt, butter and shortening in a large bowl.
Rub the flour together until it has broken into pieces the size of oatmeal flakes. Don’t over-blend. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, add the ice water, a little at a time, mixing until it just starts to hold together.
Press the dough into a roughly shaped ball. Knead it briefly into a fairly smooth ball, then sprinkle lightly with flour and wrap in a sheet of waxed paper. Chill 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. When ready to roll, sprinkle work surface and rolling pin with flour and roll the pastry out into a circle 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick.
Butter a 9 inch quiche pan. Place the crust in the pan and press gently to line the inside. Crimp edges. Line the pastry with greased parchment paper and fill with pie weights. I use uncooked beans or rice.
Bake in the middle level of a preheated 400 degree oven for about 8-9 minutes or until the pastry seems set. Remove foil and beans, prick bottom of the pastry with a fork, and return to oven for 2-3 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
