Basic Tea Biscuits

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk or 1 cup light cream

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 450 degrees f.
• 2 combine dry ingredients.
• 3 cut in shortening with two knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• 4 make a well in the centre and add liquid all at once. stir vigorously until dough comes freely from the sides of the bowl.
• 5 turn dough onto a lightly floured board and roll or pat to 1/2-inch thick.
• 6 cut out 2-inch biscuits with a floured water glass or biscuit cutter.
• 7 place on an ungreased baking sheet. bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until tops are golden brown.
• 8 serve immediately with butter, jam or honey.
• 9 variations: cheese tea biscuits use only 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 cup shortening.
• 10 add 3/4 cup shredded cheese (yellow or marble) to dry ingredients.
• 11 buttermilk tea biscuits use only 2 tsp baking powder add 1/2 tsp baking soda replace milk with 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk.
• 12 raisin or nut tea biscuits add to dry ingredients 1/4 cup sugar; and 3/4 cup seedless raisins or chopped nuts use only 7/8 cup milk whole wheat tea biscuits replace 1 cup of flour with 1 cup whole wheat flour.