Basic Buttermilk Biscuits

3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs -- lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 spray shortening and corn-
meal for coating pan
|Preheat oven to 400~. In a food processor or a large bowl,mix 3 cups of
the flour with salt,sugar,baking powder and baking soda. Cut the butter
into the dry ingredients until the mixture is textured like cornmeal.
Separately mix the eggs with the buttermilk,and stir all but 2 tbsp. of
this liquid into the dry mixture. Mix just enough to make a uniformly
moistened dough. Dust a clean work surface with 1/2 the remaining
flour,and turn the dough out onto the floured surface. Sprinkle the top
with the rest of the flour,and with floured hands,gently push the dough
into a circle about 1/2" thick.. Cut with a 2" or 3 " biscuit cutter,and
place biscuits close together on a grease and cornmeal coated cookie
sheet. You will get about 12 biscuits. Brush the tops of the biscuits
with the reserved buttermilk egg mixture. Bake in the preheated oven
until puffed and brown,about 15 minutes .Cool for a few minutes before
serving.