Sift together flour, salt and baking powder; add shortening and rub in very lightly with tips of fingers. Add cold water very slowly, enough to hold dough together (do not work or knead dough and handle as little as possible). Divide in halves; roll out one part thin on floured board, and use for bottom crust. After pie is filled roll out other part for top. Cover pie; press edges together; trim off pastry and bake.

Rich Pastry

2 cups pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon Royal Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
cold water

Sift flour, baking powder and salt; add one-half shortening and rub in lightly with fingers; add water slowly until of right consistency to roll out. Divide in halves; roll out one half thin; put on in small pieces half remaining shortening; fold upper and lower edges in to center; fold sides in to center; fold sides to center again; roll out thin and put loosely over pie plate, bringing paste well over edge of plate; trim off edges. Repeat with other half for top crust.

Apple Pie

1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons Royal Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
cold water
4 apples or 1 quart sliced apples
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter

Sift flour, baking powder and salt; add shortening and rub in very lightly; add just enough water to hold dough together. Roll half out on floured board, line bottom of pie plate; fill in apples, which have been washed, pared and cut into thin slices; sprinkle with sugar, and small pieces of butter; flavor with cinnamon or nutmeg; wet edges of crust with cold water; roll out remainder of pastry; cover pie, pressing edges tightly together, trim off extra pastry; prick top, and bake in moderate oven 30 minutes.

Lemon Meringue Pie

2 cups water
3 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon salt

Line pie plate loosely with pastry and bake about 10 minutes or until very light brown. Put water on to boil; mix corn starch, flour and sugar with 1/2 cup cold water until smooth; add egg yolks; mix well and add slowly to boiling water. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly; add lemon juice, rind and salt. Pour into baked crust. Beat egg whites; add 3 tablespoons sugar and spread thickly over top of pie. Dust with sugar and brown in very slow oven.