Old Fashioned Buttermilk Biscuits

 2 cups sifted self-rising flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup shortening
7/8 cup buttermilk

heat oven to 450*F. Lightly grease baking sheet; set aside. Combine flour and baking soda in bowl. cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is consistency of coarse crumbs. Add buttermilk; stir with fork just until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto lightly floured board or pastry cloth. Knead gently just until smooth. Roll out to 1/2" thickness. Cut into rounds with floured 2 inch biscuit cutter. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. or until golden brown.