Here is the pastry crust recipe from Great American Home Baking: Chicken Pot Pie. It's usually successful when made exactly to recipe. I think it would also work with shortening instead of butter. It can be made several days ahead as long as it is well sealed in the refrigerator against air.
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 Cup chilled butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg
2-3 Tablespoons ice water
To prepare pastry, in a medium bowl, mix together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter into flour until course crumbs form.
In a small bowl, beat together egg and water. Add to the flour mixture. Mix lightly until a soft dough forms. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the pastry to fit your dish. Bake at 400 F. (This is from a pot pie recipe with a 25-30 minute bake time.)
