Prairie Buttermilk Biscuits

3 cups flour -- all-purpose, sifted
1 teas salt
1/2 teas baking soda
3 teas baking powder
2/3 cups shortening
1 cup buttermilk
4 T butter (opt)

Preheat oven to 450. Sift flour, salt, soda, and baking powder into mixing bowl. Cut in shortening, using 2 knives, a pastry cutter or your hands dusted with flour. Add sufficient buttermilk to make a soft dough. Knead lightly and turn out onto a lightly floured board. Roll out to 1/2" thickness and cut with biscuit cutter into rounds. Place rounds not touching - for crisper biscuits - or close together - for softer biscuits - on ungreased baking sheet. Brush with melted butter if desired and bake in preheated oven 12-15 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned.