Carefully weigh the flour and butter, and have the exact proportion
Squeeze the butter well, to extract the water from it, and afterwards wring it in a clean cloth, that no moisture may remain
Sift the flour; see that it is perfectly dry
Proceed in the following manner to make the paste, using a very clean paste-board and rolling-pin
Work the the flour into a smooth paste, with not quite 1/2 pint of water, using a knife to mix it with: the proportion of this latter ingredient must be regulated by the discretion of the cook; if too much be added, the paste, when baked, will be tough
Roll it out until it is of an equal thickness of about an inch
Break 4 oz. of the butter into small pieces; place these on the paste, sift over it a little flour, fold it over, roll out again, and put another 4 oz. of butter
Repeat the rolling and buttering until the paste has been rolled out 4 times, or equal quantities of flour and butter have been used
Do not omit, every time the paste is rolled out, to dredge a little flour over that and the rolling-pin, to prevent both from sticking
Handle the paste as lightly as possible, and do not press heavily upon it with the rolling-pin
The next thing to be considered is the oven, as the baking of pastry requires particular attention. Do not put it into the oven until it is sufficiently hot to raise the paste; for the best-prepared paste, if not properly baked, will be good for nothing
Brushing the paste as often as rolled out, and the pieces of butter placed thereon, with the white of an egg, assists it to rise in leaves or flakes. As this is the great beauty of puff-paste, it is as well to try this method.
Source: The Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton (1859)
Puff Paste, Medium
