Baking Powder Biscuits

Directions

1. 1
   HEAT oven to 450°F. Coat baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.
2. 2
   PLACE flour, baking powder and salt into large bowl. Stir until well blended. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until crumbs are the size of peas. Add milk, stirring with fork just until flour is moistened.
3. 3
   TURN dough onto lightly floured surface. Shape into ball, handling dough as little as possible. Roll into an 8-inch circle using lightly floured rolling pin. Fold in half. Repeat 3 to 5 times. Roll dough into an 8-inch square. Cut using a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter. For crisper biscuits, place on prepared baking sheet 1-inch apart. For softer biscuits, arrange so edges almost touch. Reroll scraps to cut remaining biscuits.
4. 4
   BAKE 8 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
5. 5
   BUTTERMILK BISCUITS: Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to flour mixture. Substitute buttermilk for milk.
6. 6
   CHEESE BISCUITS: Stir 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese into flour-shortening mixture before adding milk.
7. 7
   DROP BISCUITS: Increase milk to 1 1/4 cups. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets.