Recipe - Annie Mae Jones Buttermilk Biscuits

3 cup Flour,allpurpose,sifted
1 teaspoon Salt
One half teaspoon Baking soda
3 teaspoon Baking powder
2/3 cup Shortening
1 cup Buttermilk
4 tablespoon Butter (opt)

1. Preheat oven to 450'F.

2. Sift flour, salt, soda, and baking powder into mixing bowl. Cut in
shortening, using 2 knives, a pastry cutteror your hands dusted with flour.
Add sufficient buttermilk to make a soft dough. Knead lightly and turn out
onto a lightly floured board. Roll out to 1/2" thickness and cut with
biscuit cutter into rounds. Place rounds not touching for crisper
biscuits or close together for softer biscuits on ungreased baking
sheet. Brush with melted butter if desired and bake in preheated oven 1215
minutes, or until firm and lightly browned.