Buttermilk Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

5 tablespoons chilled solid vegetable shortening

1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and soda. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut the shortening into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.

Add the buttermilk, tossing with a fork until a dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gather into a disk. Knead lightly a few times just until smooth.

Pat the dough to 3/4" thick. Using a biscuit cutter or a glass dipped in flour, cut out biscuits. Place the biscuits, 2" apart, on an ungreased baking sheet. Gather dough-trimmings, pat to 3/4" thick, and cut out more biscuits.

Bake the biscuits at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot.

Note: To produce flaky biscuits, do not overhandle the dough. For less waste and a speedier preparation, pat the dough into a square, then cut into square-shape biscuits with a floured knife. Bake as directed above.