Pie Dough

ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very cold and cut into small cubes
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water, very cold

the making of it

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar.
2. Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter, two knives, or your hands, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
3. Add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing gently with a fork after each addition, until the dough just begins to come together. You may not need all of the water.
4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently press it together. Do not overwork it. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a flat disk.
5. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 2 days, before rolling out.
6. When ready to use, let the dough sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes, then roll it out on a lightly floured surface.