Plain Good Butter Biscuits

Total Time: 22 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup milk (about)

Recipe

• 1 sift the flour then measure. add b. powder and salt and sift again.
• 2 cut in the butter. hyde recommends using your fingers for this by rubbing the butter into the flour. i usually don't because the heat of my hands and fingers tend to melt the butter and that's not good. if you have "hot hands" too, use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the butter into the flour.
• 3 add the milk gradually, stirring gently. add only enough milk to bring the flour together in a soft ball. turn the mix onto a floured surface and knead it reluctantly, just enough to incorporate all the milk. gently pat the dough into a 1/2" tall layer. handle the dough as little possible so the biscuits will be tender.
• 4 cut the dough into rounds or squares and place in a buttered pan. it helps biscuits to rise more if you allow the sides to touch. i don't know why this works but it usually does for me.
• 5 bake for 12 - 15 minutes at 400 deg.
• 6 you can make these into great appetizers by adding shredded cheddar and fresh parsley to the flour before adding milk. then cut the biscuits with a small cutter (or glass) about 2" in diameter.