Biscuits

(Courtesy of Alton Brown)

Ingredients:
12 oz. (about 2 c.) all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 c. more for dusting
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, chilled
2 oz. (1/4 c.) vegetable shortening, chilled
1 c. low-fat buttermilk, chilled

Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Whisk together all the dry powdery stuff (except the flour for dusting) in a large mixing bowl.

Using your fingertips, rub the butter and shortening into the dry goods until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in the buttermilk.  Stir with a large spoon until the dough just comes together.  Then knead in the bowl until all of the flour has been taken up.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then start folding the dough over on itself, gently kneading for 30 seconds or until the dough is soft and smooth.

Press the dough into a 3/4 inch thick round.  Using a 3 inch round cutter, cut out biscuits, being sure to push the cutter all the way through the dough to the work surface before twisting to "punch" out the biscuit.  Make your cuts as close together as possible to limit waste.

Place the biscuits on an aluminum sheet pan so that they barely touch.  Reroll scraps and punch out as many biscuits as possible.

Using your thumb to create a shallow dimple in the top center of each biscuit, and bake until the biscuits are tall and light gold on top, 15-20 minutes.  Turn the biscuits out into a kitchen towel-lined basket and let cool for several minutes before serving.

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