Better Than Mom's! Biscuits

Step 1: Preheat oven to 425 with rack in the upper portion. Place parchment on baking sheet if desired, but either way, no need to grease the baking sheet.

Step 2: Weigh flour (120 grams per cup) or measure by gently spooning it into a cup and leveling.

Step 3: Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.

Step 4: Work the butter in with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles bread crumbs.

Step 5: Drizzle the smaller amount of buttermilk evenly over the flour mixture. Mix quickly and gently for about 15 seconds, until you've made a cohesive dough. If it won't come together, drizzle in enough buttermilk (up to 2 more tablespoons) to make it cohesive.

Step 6: Place dough on lightly floured surface and pat into a rough rectangle about 3/4" thick. Fold into thirds like an envelope, then roll until dough is about 3/4" thick.

Step 7: Cut with biscuit cutter. A standard cutter will yield 12 biscuits, a large 3 1/2" cutter will yield 6 biscuits.

Step 8: Place the biscuits bottom side up on your baking sheet and brush with milk.

Step 9: Bake the biscuits 15 - 20 minutes or until they are lightly browned. In my oven, 6 large biscuits required the full 20 minutes.

Step 10: Remove from oven and serve warm. If serving leftover biscuits, warm them first.