Preheat oven to 450-500F. Sift 2 cups of the flour with the baking powder, salt, pepper, and baking soda into a bowl. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or fork, or work it in with your fingers. Add the buttermilk to make a soft dough, mixing just until the dough holds together. Flour your hands. Pull of a piece of dough the size of a biscuit and dip the wet edge into the extra flour. The roll or pat into a biscuit. Place slightly touching, on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until golden golden brown.

8-10 minutes. From Nathalie Dupree's "New Southern Cooking"