Biscuits (Baking Powder or Buttermilk)

From Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, these soft, fluffy, and flaky biscuits are always a welcome addition to the table. They can be successfully made using a combination of two parts all-purpose and one part whole-wheat flour.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  tablespoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3 cup shortening
• 3⁄4 cup milk

Directions

1. Whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl; cut in shortening (I use a pastry cutter) until flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs; form a well in the center of mixture; pour milk into the well and stir quickly with a fork just until dough comes together.
2. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently (do NOT overwork - dough should remain soft and somewhat sticky) about ten strokes; pat or roll out dough to a 5/8" thickness; cut biscuits using a round cutter or the top of a glass ~ For super-quick square biscuits, simply use a knife to cut a tic-tac-toe shape through the rolled out dough.
3. Place cut biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet or pizza stone; bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes or just until biscuits are light golden-brown.
4. NOTE: For buttermilk biscuits, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to the dry ingredients and substitute buttermilk for the milk.