American Baking Powder Pastry

American baking powder pastry
Or
American biscuit crust

INGREDIENTS
8 oz plain flour
4 level teaspoons baking powder (or 2 level teaspoons if using self raising flour)
Pinch salt
1 dessertspoon of sugar (if using for a sweet dish only)
Water or milk to mix
1 – 2 oz fat.  Preferably margarine not butter

METHOD
Sieve flour and baking powder together.  Rub in fat and mix to a rolling consistency with cold water.  Roll out rather thinly as this pastry will rise a great deal.  Don’t keep this pastry  standing too long before it is baked.  Best if made as you want to use it.  Bake in a hot oven (220 degrees Celsius).

This pastry is very economical in its use of fat.  If eaten the day it is baked it is very good.  It will also keep in a tin for two weeks once cooked, and can be frozen after cooling.