MARTHA WHITE "HOT RIZE" BISCUITS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 450°F. Spray a cookie sheet lightly with no-stick cooking spray. Place flour in large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk; stir with fork until soft dough forms and mixture begins to pull away from sides of bowl. KNEAD dough on lightly floured surface just until smooth. Roll out dough to ½-inch thickness. Cut with floured 2-inch round cutter. Place biscuits with sides touching on prepared cookie sheet. BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. VARIATIONS: OLD-FASHIONED BUTTERMILK BISCUITS: Substitute ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk for milk; add ¼ teaspoon baking soda to flour, if desired.