You will need this. Trust me. This little recipe (thank you Martha Stewart) with only 4 ingredients will become the base of many desserts I plan on bestowing upon you during the upcoming holiday season. In fact, later this week I will kick off the Holiday Desserts series. 

Don’t pretend you’re not excited. 

Memorize this recipe. Say it out loud 50 times if you have to. Make flashcards. Keep a 3×5 up on the mirror in the bathroom. Whatever you need to do to learn it, do it…this guy is your holiday dessert weapon. 

Plus, it’s quite tasty. 

You can make the dough in a food processor, but it’s risky unless you really know what you’re doing. I do mine by hand and just cut in the butter with a pastry blender. 

Makes enough for one double-crust or two single-crust 9-inch pies

Ingredients:: 

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces
• 1/4 cup ice water, plus more if needed

Directions:: 

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add the butter, and cut in butter by hand with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces remaining. 
2. Add the ice water and continuing to use the pastry blender, mix it in gently, just until the dough holds together without being wet or sticky. Do not over blend. Test by squeezing a small amount of the dough together; if it is still too crumbly, add a little more water, 1 TBS at a time. 
3. Turn out the dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, and place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into flattened disks. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. The dough can be frozen up to one month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.