Make Baking Soda Biscuits

Here is a quick and easy recipe for baking soda biscuits.

Ingredients

Preheat the oven to 450ºF (230º C).
Sift all dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
Cut in the shortening (gradually work small pieces into the mixture) with a baker's wire cutting tool or a large serving fork until you have a "coarse meal" texture.
Form the mixture into a simple cone-shaped pile. With your knuckles or the bottom of a glass or cup, form a "well" in the center of the mixture.
Pour the buttermilk into the "well".
Stir the mixture until the wet and dry ingredients are thoroughly incorporated and you have a soft dough.
Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board, table top, counter top, etc.
Knead the dough with your hands about 30 seconds, then flatten or roll out the dough to the thickness of about half an inch.
Using a {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} round cookie cutter, cut out biscuits.
Place your biscuits on an un-greased cookie sheet. Leave room between them, as they will expand with heat.
- If you prefer a fluffier biscuit, allow biscuits to touch each other in the pan and they will expand upward rather than outward, create a taller, softer biscuit.
Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the biscuits are lightly browned.
Finished.

Substitute butter or margarine for shortening.
No round cookie cutter in your kitchen? Use the open end of a glass, cup, or jelly jar.
If you do substitute wheat flour, be aware that the biscuits will come out somewhat denser. A good compromise is half and half. ^{[citation needed]}
This is a great recipe and cooking experience to introduce to beginner chefs.

Use oven mitts or pot-holders to remove the baking sheet from the oven.
Do not leave inexperienced children unsupervised while cooking or handling hot or sharp cooking utensils.