Biscuits

Yield: 10-12 biscuits

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk (if using buttermilk, decrease baking powder to 2 tsp and add 1/4 tsp baking soda to dry ingredients)

Heat oven to 450F. Cut shortening into flour, sugar, baking powder and salt with pastry blender or a fork until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Stir in milk until dough leaves side of bowl (dough will be soft and sticky). Turn dough onto lightly floured surface.

Knead lightly 10 times. Roll or pat 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured 2 1/2 inch round cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart for crusty sides, touching for soft sides. Bake until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet so bottom of biscuits don't brown too much.