Southern Biscuits

• 2 cups all-purpose
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon soda
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 2/3 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 450. Measure flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and into bowl. Cut in shortening thoroughly, until mixture looks like meal. Stir in almost all the buttermilk. If dough is not pliable, add just enough milk to make a soft, puffy, easy-to-roll dough. Round up dough on lightly floured cloth-covered board. Knead lightly 20 to 25 times, about 1/2 minutes. Roll a little less than 1/2 inch thick . Cut with floured biscuits cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

• Yields: About 2 dozen 1 3/4 -inch biscuits
• Preparation Time: 25 minutes