Bill's Biscuits

Originally, this recipe came from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Dad has been making them so long though that, to us, it will always be his recipe. The members of the Edwards Ward even took to calling them Bill's Biscuits, so that's how the recipe is listed.

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
2/3 cup milk

Combine dry ingredients in mid-sized mixing bowl; cut in shortening, either with butter knives or with a pastry cutter. Use a fork to mix milk into flour mixture thoroughly but avoid over-mixing as this will make the dough tough. Press out onto lightly floured surface and use either biscuit cutter or a glass to cut biscuits into uniform circles. Place on a cookie sheet beginning with one biscuit at the center and working out, making sure that all biscuits are touching each other. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.