Sourdough Biscuits
makes around 10 biscuits

2-1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup lard, (yes, lard, the "most elegant fat you'll ever meet") cold and cut into chunks, or a mix of half lard and half cold/frozen butter
1 Tablespoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sourdough starter, freshly fed a few hours earlier
up to 1 cup of milk
melted butter

In a large bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients except the baking soda. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter cut in the lard or lard and butter into the dry ingredients until it is mealy and the fat is in roughly pea-size pieces, evenly distributed throughout the flour. Add the starter and stir well.

Now, mix the baking soda with just a teaspoon or so of warm water. Add to the dough and stir well.  Then, add in just enough milk to make a biscuit dough. Biscuit dough should be quite sticky and just stick together. It should never be dry.

Dump biscuit dough onto a lightly floured surface, turning to lightly cover with flour and just barely, with your hands, push the dough together to form a rough rectangle. Gently press down until it is about an inch and a half depth.

Now, using a biscuit cutter, or even just a glass, dip the cutter into flour and then quickly cut the biscuits.  Right before baking, baste the tops of the biscuits with melted butter and bake in a 375 degree Fahrenheit oven for 30-35 minutes.