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 12-15 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned.
Ingredients
3 c Flour,all-purpose,sifted
1 ts Salt
1/2 ts Baking soda
3 ts Baking powder
3/4 c Shortening
1 c Buttermilk
4 tb Butter (opt)