To Prepare Baking Powder Mixtures. Pastry flour is best for baking-powder mixtures, and should be sifted once before measuring.

Only standard baking-powders should be used. Use 2 teaspoons baking powder to 1 cup flour; 1/2 teaspoon soda and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar can be substituted for 2 teaspoons baking powder.

In combining baking-powder mixtures follow general rule for mixing batters, being careful to work quickly after baking powder has been moistened.

Baking Powder Biscuits

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons fat 3/4 to 1 cup milk or water

Mix the dry ingredients, chop fat into the flour with a knife, slowly add sufficient milk to make a dough not too soft to be handled. Use the knife while combining dough and when handling it on the board. Toss and roll dough gently on a slightly floured board, and cut into small biscuits. Moisten tops with a little milk. Handle dough quickly, lightly, and as little as possible. Place on a buttered sheet. Bake in a hot oven till brown, from 12 to 15 minutes. Either white or whole wheat flour may be used for biscuit. Serves 6 to 8. Oven test - oven should be hot enough to color a piece of unglazed white paper to golden brown in 1 minute.

Emergency Biscuits

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter or other fat 3/4 cup milk or water

Sift dry ingredients twice, cut in fat, add milk gradually. Drop mixture into greased muffin tins, brush over with milk, and bake in a hot oven 12 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Soda Biscuits

1 pint flour 1/3 teaspoon soda (level) 1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons shortening (lard or other fat) 2/3 cup sour milk

Note: - If the sour milk is not thick enough to clabber, it will not contain sufficient acid to neutralize the soda and the biscuits will be yellow and bitter. To avoid this, cream of tartar can be combined with the soda (1 teaspoon). If there is no cream of tartar at hand it will be wise to use the recipe for baking powder biscuits.

Mix and sift the flour, soda and salt. Chop in the fat with a knife, then add enough of the sour milk to make a soft dough. Toss onto a floured board and roll lightly. Cut out with a biscuit cutter and put in a greased pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in a hot oven. Serves 6 to 8.

Pin Wheel Biscuits

2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon lard or cleo 2/3 cup milk or less

1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 cup raisins or currants 2 tablespoons butter

Combine the first five ingredients as baking powder biscuits. Roll 1/4 inch in thickness, brush with creamed butter and sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 cup stoned and chopped raisins. Roll up like a jelly roll, cut off 3/4 inches at a time and place in a greased pan cut ends up. Bake in a hot oven 15 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Hot Cross Buns with Baking Powder

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter 3/4 to 1 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup currants

Mix dry ingredients, chop fat into the flour with a knife, mix part of the milk with the egg, and slowly add sufficient of the liquid to make a dough not too soft to be handled. While adding the liquid mix in the currants also. Toss and roll dough gently on a slightly floured board, and cut in large rounds. Just before baking mark with a cross on top using a sharp knife; brush with beaten egg. Bake 12 to 15 minutes in a moderately hot oven. Serves 6 to 8.