Southern Grandma's Baking Powder Biscuits

Step 1: Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F.

Step 2: Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt into a bowl.

Step 3: Use a pastry cutter (or fork) to cut vegetable shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 4: Whisk egg and milk together in a separate bowl and slowly add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring as you pour, until dough is moistened and well-mixed.

Step 5: Drop dough by spoonfulls onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Step 6: Or:

Step 7: Knead 5 times on floured board.

Step 8: Roll out to 1/2 inch thick.

Step 9: Cut.

Step 10: Bake on ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 11: Bake in the preheated oven until biscuits have risen and are golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.