Refrigerate ALL ingredients - make sure they are cold before beginning.

Preheat oven to 475F.

Mix the dry ingredients

Cut in the shortening with your fingers.

Add the milk

Don't work the mixture too much, the dough should be very moist.

Sprinkle some flour on a pastry cloth and dump out the dough

Pat the dough gently out until it is about 12" round

Fold in half and pat out until it is a uniform, 1/2" thick

Use a biscuit cutter and press straight down into the dough (don't twist as that action can seal the edges)

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned on top.