English Pastry Crust for Meat Casseroles

This is a very traditional recipe for English Pastry CRUST which is used as a top and bottom crust for a meat-filled pie/casserole. It needs to be chilled before using, so you need to make this ahead of the actual main dish you are going to make with it. Some filling suggestions are: -- Leftover turkey, stuffing, and gravy from Thanksgiving -- Roast Leg of Lamb, onions, and gravy. -- Chicken and veggies -- Ham, potatoes, cheese The recipe originally published in Betty Crocker but is becoming harder to find this specialty pastry recipe. Once you try it, it will fast become a favorite for those who especially LOVE to eat the pastry crust as much if not more than the filling. Just about anything you can think of is made extra special with this tasty pastry!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 1 crust

Ingredients

• 2  cups flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3 cup shortening
• 1⁄2 cup hot water
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1  egg yolk, unbeaten

Directions

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Mix shortening into hot water until melted. Add yolk and blend well.
3. Add liquid mixture to flour mixture. Mix well.
4. Place in bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill several hours or overnight.
5. When ready to use, preheat oven to 425 degs.
6. Divide out 3/4 of the dough and pat firmly as a lining for a 2 qt (8-inch) casserole dish.
7. Fill with whatever filling mixture you desire. (NOTE: Be sure meat is already cooked meat! You are reheating the filling, not cooking sufficiently long enough to cook raw meat!).
8. Roll out (or pat out) between two sheets of wax paper, remaining dough to use as top crust.
9. Lay the top crust over the casserole, carefully removing the wax paper.
10. Cut 3-4 small slits for venting. Seal edges and trim. If you wish, you can brush with an egg wash, or spray with a "PAM" spray to help with browning.
11. Bake casserole at 425 for 25 mins until crust is golden brown.