Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2 1/2  cups          all purpose flour
   1      tablespoon    baking powder
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
   1      tablespoon    coarse cracked black pepper
     1/2  teaspoon      baking soda
     3/4  cup           shortening
   1      cup           buttermilk

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450-500F. Sift 2 cups of the flour with the baking powder, salt, pepper, and baking soda into a bowl. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or fork, or work it in with your fingers. Add the buttermilk to make a soft dough, mixing just until the dough holds together. Flour your hands. Pull of a piece of dough the size of a biscuit and dip the wet edge into the extra flour. The roll or pat into a biscuit. Place slightly touching, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown--8-10 minutes. From Nathalie Dupree's "New Southern Cooking