Baking-Powder Biscuits

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 3 t (or 1 T) baking powder
• 1t salt
• 1/3 cup shortening (could use softened butter or margarine)
• 3/4 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift flour with baking powder and salt into medium bowl
2. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives (used scissor-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, 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 3/4 inch thickness
6. With floured 2 1/2 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

Optional

To prepare ahead: Make biscuits through first part of Step 7 (place on cookie sheet); refrigerate up to 3 hours. Let warm 15 minutes to room temperature, while preheating oven; bake as directed.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup sifted flour
• 2 1/4 t baking powder
• 3/4 t salt
• 1/4 cup shortening, butter, or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift flour with baking powder and salt into medium bowl
2. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives (used scissor-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. Drop dough, by tablespoons, onto lightly greased cookie sheet; bake at 450°F for 10 minutes or until golden-brown.

Optional

Cheese Biscuits: Adding 1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese to sifted dry ingredients, make Baking-Powder Biscuits.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (or 2 cups) sifted flour
• 1 1/2 t (or 1 T) baking powder
• 1/2 t (or 1t) salt
• 1/6 cup (or 1/3 cup) shortening, butter, or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup (or 1 cup) milk

Directions

1. Decide which quantity you want to make. Then follow the ingredient list for that size and follow the rest of the directions
2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift flour with baking powder and salt into medium bowl
3. Cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives (used scissor-fashion), until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal
4. Make a well in the center. Pour in 1/3 cup (or 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.
5. Drop dough, by tablespoons, onto lightly greased cookie sheet; bake at 450°F for 10 minutes or until golden-brown.

Optional

Adjust the size of the batch by comparing this recipe with the one above.