SHORTENING CUTTER RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Heavily grease a large cast-iron skillet or biscuit pan and set aside. (I prefer the cast iron skillet).
• Put the flour into a large bowl and add lard/shortening.
• Cut into flour using the usual pastry method.
• Add buttermilk and mix with fork or hands.
• Mix into a light dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured board and knead a couple of times.
• Pat dough to flatten to about 1/2 inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cut dough into biscuits.
• Place cut biscuits in the prepared pan.
• Pour melted shortening/butter over each biscuit.
• Bake for about 13 to 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan and place into a covered container and allow to steam for about 5 minutes. You may also brush melted butter over top prior to steaming (if desired).
• Serve hot with butter, apple butter, jellies, jams, honey, or anything else that you like.
• Special Note: I didn't have a biscuit cutter, so what I did was open both ends of a 4-ounce sized mushroom can, washed and removed the label and it works perfectly.

Steps:

• (Important note: You may substitute 2 1/2 cups buttermilk for the milk/vinegar mixture.)(Important note #2: If you use salted butter instead of shortening/lard, decrease the amount of salt you add.)Preheat the oven to 475 F.In a measuring pitcher, combine milk and vinegar. Stir together and set aside for 10 minutes. Note: You can use 2 1/2 cups buttermilk instead of the milk and vinegar if you have some on hand.In a large bowl sift together the flour and salt. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the lard (or butter or shortening or both) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a fork or wooden spoon until it all comes together. Flour the surface, then turn out the dough and knead 10-15 times, adding a little flour so it's less sticky. Roll out dough to 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick and use a biscuit cutter to cut medium to small circles. Place on a baking sheet 1/2 inch apart and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from oven and immediately brush on melted butter. To die for!***Baking time will vary depending on the size of the biscuit cutter you use. I made mini biscuits, which took about 9 to 10 minutes. Larger biscuits will take longer, so keep an eye on them as they bake.