1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl with a fork. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in just enough milk so dough leaves side of bowl and rounds up into a ball. (Too much milk makes dough sticky, not enough makes biscuits dry.)
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly 10 times. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with floured 2-inch biscuit cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart for crusty sides, touching for soft sides. Bake at 450F. until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. About 1 dozen biscuits.

Cheese Biscuits: Stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese into flour mixture just before adding the milk. Continue as above.