Shortcrust Pastry for Dessert Tarts and Pies

• ½ pound plain flour
• 1 tablespoon icing sugar
• squeeze of <

Sift flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. Add lemon juice, salt, butter and vanilla extract; cover well with the flour, and rub together lightly with the tips of the fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. While rubbing, keep lifting the flour well up in the bowl, so that air may mix with it and the butter is not made too soft.

When pastry is mixed, make a well in the centr