Buttermilk Baking Powder Biscuits

Buttermilk Baking-Powder Biscuits

Makes 8 (2 ½ inch) Biscuits

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup shortening

About ¾ cup buttermilk

Optional:  ¼ cup sugar added after step 2.

1.                  Preheat oven to 450F.  Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda  and salt into medium bowl.

2.                  Cut shortening into flour mixture, with a pastry blender or 2 knives (used scissors fashion), until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

3.                  Make a well in the center.  Pour in 2/3 cup milk all at once.  Stir quickly round the bowl, with a fork.  If mixture seems dry, add a little more milk, to form dough just moist enough (but not wet) to leave side of bowl and form ball.

4.                  Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, to knead.  Gently pick up dough from side away from you; fold over toward you; press out lightly with palm of hand.  Give the dough a quarter turn.  Repeat ten times.

5.                  Gently roll out dough, from center, to ½ to ¾ inch thickness.

6.                  With floured 2 ½ inch biscuit cutter, cut straight down into dough, being careful not to twist cutter.

7.                  Place on ungreased cookie sheet; bake 12 to 15 minutes.