Sift the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until crumbly. Blend milk quickly into flour mixture. Turn dough out on floured surface. Gently knead for 10 - 12 strokes. Preheat oven to 425ºF. Roll dough approximately 1/2"thick. Cut with biscuit cutter being careful not to twist the cutter. Place the biscuits on ungreased baking sheet 1" apart. Bake until lightly browned.

For buttermilk biscuits: Add 1/4 teaspoon of soda to dry ingredients, substitute 1/3 cup of shortening and use the same amount of buttermilk as sweet milk.