Biscuits (Baking Powder or Buttermilk)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup milk

Directions

1. 1

   Whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl; cut in shortening (I use a pastry cutter) until flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs; form a well in the center of mixture; pour milk into the well and stir quickly with a fork just until dough comes together.

2. 2

   Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently (do NOT overwork - dough should remain soft and somewhat sticky) about ten strokes; pat or roll out dough to a 5/8" thickness; cut biscuits using a round cutter or the top of a glass ~ For super-quick square biscuits, simply use a knife to cut a tic-tac-toe shape through the rolled out dough.

3. 3

   Place cut biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet or pizza stone; bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or just until biscuits are light golden-brown.

4. 4

   NOTE: For buttermilk biscuits, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to the dry ingredients and substitute buttermilk for the milk.