GRANDMA ZORA'S SODA BISCUITS

Ingredients:
3 cups White Lilly bleached flour (not self-rising)
(The texture will be different with any other brand)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp shortening (do not heap) can use butter flavored
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients in flour sifter.   Sift into mixing bowl and mix
thoroughly.   Work in shortening with fingers until evenly distributed.
DO NOT ADD EXTRA SHORTENING!   More shortening will result in crumbly
biscuits. Add buttermilk and stir till thoroughly wetted.   The mixture
should be slightly wet, not a thick dough.   Add small portions (2-3 Tbsp)
of buttermilk if dough appears to dry or thick.   Wetter dough will result
in lighter and fluffier biscuits.  Set dough aside.

Flour hands generously and take a handful of dough slightly larger than an
egg.   Roll into a ball, knead gently, then flatten to around 3/4" to 1" in
thickness. This is messy and will take a little practice.   Flour hands
between each biscuit.   The faint of heart can roll out dough on a lightly
floured surface and cut with a biscuit cutter.   Grandma always did it by hand.
Place the hand shaped biscuits on a 10X15 baking sheet side by side letting the
edges touch.   Bake for 9-12 minutes at 450 degrees.

These biscuits are best served warm.   Grandma always had a pan in the oven
anytime we visited.   I loved them cold, but they are best when fresh out of
the oven.   Thanks for the memories Grandma!

This recipe will make 10-12 medium biscuits or 16-18 small biscuits.