Hi Margaret,

Here are two recipes from an old collection (but not my Ma's or Granny's). The first has the biscuits being turned to grease both sides and the second is mixed by hand as you described.. I hope one will be close to the one you're looking for.

Happy Baking!

Betsy

MA'S BISCUITS

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) margarine, melted
2 cups flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour margarine in biscuit pan and set aside.

Mix all other ingredients well. Turn out dough onto well-floured board. Knead very little.

Pat into 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with biscuit cutter, placing biscuits in pan. Turn each biscuit so that the tops and bottoms are both buttered.

Bake 10-12 minutes.

VARIATION:
The original recipe called for turning the dough onto a floured board and shape into a loaf. "Pinch off" each biscuit, knead and shape into correct size. Continue as above.

GRANNY'S BISCUITS

2 lbs. self rising flour (or enough) to fill a large pan or bowl)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup pure lard, not melted
1/4 tsp. soda
2 tbsp. baking powder

Pour flour into large bowl. Make a well in middle of flour and add milk, lard, soda, and baking powder. Using hands mix in all the above ingredients using enough of the flour to make a sticky dough. Then knead into a soft ball.

Pinch out biscuits (those of you who read Lewis Grizzard, this is known as choking off the dough) and roll between palms keeping hands floured to make biscuits about the size of a soup can top. Makes about 12 medium size biscuits.

Bake at 500 degrees for 5-8 minutes.