How to Make Homemade Biscuits and Then Some

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

2 cups of flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. shortening
2/3 cup milk
Baking sheet

Step 1

I will give you the basic recipe, and then variations on it so you can wow your friends and family! These are wonderfully delicious and make a great lunch in a flash-just add sandwich filling like tuna and mayonnaise or egg salad. But of course, biscuits in the morning with the eggs and bacon and gravy are equally delicious! Enjoy!
Step 2

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Using a fork, cut the shortening into the mix until it's all crumbly. Add the milk and stir till it's a big ball. With a rolling pin, roll the ball out on a floured surface till it's 1/2 inch thick. Using a cup or clean soup can, cut out the biscuits and put them on the ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 450 degree oven, or until golden brown.
Step 3

Variations on the biscuit recipe: For Buttermilk Biscuits, use buttermilk instead of milk and only 2 tsp. baking power. Also, add 1/4 tsp. baking soda.
For Bacon Biscuits, add cooked bacon bits to the dough before rolling out and cutting.
For Cheese Biscuits, add 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese to the dough before rolling out and cutting.
For Drop Biscuits, increase milk to 1 cup, then drop mixture by spoonful onto GREASED pan. No rolling or cutting.
For Chives Biscuits, add 1/4 cup minced chives to the dough before rolling out.
For Herb Biscuits, add 1/4 cup dry mustard, 1/2 tsp. dry sage, and 1 1/4 tsp. caraway seeds to dough before rolling and cutting.
For Orange Tea Biscuits, add the grated rind of 1 orange to the dry ingredients. Then mix as usual. Before baking, press 1 sugar cube, dipped in orange juice, into the top of each biscuit. Wonderful when having a friend over for tea.