Biscuits

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 scant tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style
• 1 cup whole milk

1. Step 1 Preheat oven to 425.
2. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl.
3. Transfer to a food processor.
4. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.)
5. Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.

1. Step 2 Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick.
2. Fold it over and gently pat it down again.
3. Repeat.
4. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

1. Step 3 Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches.
2. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass cutter.
3. Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.

Step 4 Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.