Every time I think of making biscuits I don't have shortening. Here's a recipe that you can tell your biscuits are definitely homemade and didn't pop out of a can. I always keep sticks of butter in the fridge for random baking and biscuit making for me is considered random.
INGREDIENTS
2 - Cups all purpose flour
1 - Cup of butter (2 sticks - 1 stick needs to be freezer cold)
2 - Tbsp baking powder
1/2 - Tspn baking soda
1 - Cup of milk (2%)
Salt
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Total cook time is 15 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda and mix to evenly distribute ingredients. Cut in the stick of butter that is freezer cold with the dry ingredients until the crumbs are coarse. Add milk and slowly mix until the dough starts to form. I add enough milk to where it becomes a drop biscuit consistency. You can add less milk and form dough to uniform pieces with a kneading process. (To make a dinner biscuit add in sharp cheddar cheese, 1 Tbsp of garlic powder, and 1 Tbsp of Italian seasoning.)
Drop your desired size biscuit (3 inch dough) onto a cookie sheet that has been butter or greased. Bake for 10 minutes. Melt the other stick of butter in the microwave (20 seconds) and baste the top of the biscuits for the final five minutes of cooking time.