Biscuit Baking Mix (like Bisquick) from scratch

I have wanted to make this for ages.  I even let my Bisquick run out hoping that it would motive me to make some from scratch but I was missing one key ingredient...  dry milk.  I had found a free sample online so I was not so patiently waiting for it to show up.  Well, it finally did and the expiration is the end of this month!!  UGH!!!  So I pulled out the ingredients and checked a bunch of recipes and ended up using a cross between the one in Miserly Meals and Family Feasts for $75 where the only difference was the amount of shortening (hence the range listed in the recipe).

I mixed up the ingredients in the container that I was planning on using for storage.  It was easy to mix and then I didn't make two bowls dirty.  I used the top to measure everything on so that if there was any mess, I could just dump it into the bowl.  I sealed it up and waited to try the neat biscuits so now I have to search for that recipe to try :)

Biscuit Mix

Makes about 10 cup mix, or 5 batches of 8 biscuits each

8 cups all purpose flour

1 ½ c powdered milk

¼ c baking powder

1 tbsp salt

1 ½- 2 c vegetable shortening

Combine dry ingredients.  Add shortening and mix by hand or with a pastry blender (or fork) until well combined and looks like coarse corn meal

Store, tightly covered, in an airtight container but that is where the directions differ.

Per Miserly Moms:  This does not need to be refrigerated. 

Per Family Feasts:  Store in refrigerator up to 3 months.

Recipe Suggestion from Miserly Moms:  Cheesy Garlic Biscuits:

Combine 2 cups of biscuit mix with 2/3 c milk, 1/2 c cheddar cheese, 2 tbsp butter melted, 1/4 tsp garlic powder.  Drop by spoonful on to ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until light brown.

Recipe Suggestion from Family Feasts:  Biscuits: 

Combine 2 cups of biscuit mix with 1/3 c milk and 1 tbsp white vinegar to make a soft but not sticky dough.  If dough is too sticky, add a little additional flour until dough has a good texture.  Turn out on a floured counter.  Roll out about ¾ inch thick.  Cut with a large glass or biscuit cutter.  Place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake in a preheated 400 degrees over until biscuits are golden, 12 to 15 minutes.  Each batch makes about eight 3 inch biscuits.

Made biscuits and posted here.  Check them out and you will be sold on making the mix!!!