My pastry's too short!!!!!

[bruce5755]

Hi can any body tell me why my pastry is too short, most people seem to love it but I find it too dry? I make a pastry mix of half fat (lard) to flour, how can I adjust this?

Many Thanks
bruce5755

[woofgang]

less fat and more water?

[theshedman]

Hi bruce, other half tells me use either half lard, half Marg type spread or use all marg/butter.

[pauln90]

Use half the amount of fat to flour. i.e. 8oz flour you would use 4 oz of fat.

[jack daniels]

can't go wrong with this hopefully

http://www.helpwithco...hortcrust-pastry.html

Anna x

[bruce5755]

Many Thanks to you all, you've all helped and I think I now have enough ideas to get me experimenting.
Thanks once again.
bruce5755.

[askyourgran]

I use half lard half marg e.g 8oz S R Flour to 2oz lard-2oz marg. and use very cold water keep adding sparingly and stir with a knife until the sides of the bowl are clear it shouldn't be wet looking though.

[ttfn]

I only ever use 1tsp cold water to 1oz flour - works for me and mine

[maureenhall519]

Always, but always - use half fat to flour but the fat needs to be half lard and half block marg.............

[CakeQueen]

I have switched completey to white vegetable fat (Trex). Uses slightly different quantities as shown on the box but works every time. Good luck

[craft1948]

Be as quick as you can, pastry doesn't like too much handling, and wash your hands in cold water before you start.

[askyourgran]

Caft it looks so funny looking at your avatar with the fag and you telling bruce how to go about making pastry. :-)

[craft1948]

I'll have you know I have never dropped fag ash into my pastry young lady!!