Baking Powder Biscuits - flour

Method

• Preheat the oven to 425 F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans.
• Put the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl.
• Cut the shortening into the flour with two knives or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add the milk all at once and stir just until the dough forms a ball around the fork.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and knead 14 times.
• Pat until 1/2 inch thick.
• Cut into rounds with a 2-inch cookie cutter.
• Place touching each other in the cake pans and bake for 15-20 minutes.
• Roll biscuits to 1/4 inch thick and place 1 inch apart.
• Bake in a 450 F oven for 12 minutes.
• This will yield almost twice as many biscuits.
• Use 2/3 cup buttermilk instead of sweet milk and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, cutting the amount of baking powder in half, to 2 teaspoons.
• Add 1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese to the dry ingredients.
• Add an additional 1/3 cup milk and drop by teaspoonfuls onto a buttered baking sheet.