old fashioned strawberry shortcakes

This is an amazing dessert. Once you've had the real thing you won't want to go back to those yucky spongy things from the grocery store!

1 quart strawberries, sliced

1/2 to 1 cup of sugar

fresh whipped cream whipped with a little vanilla & sugar

1/3 shortening

2 cups flour

3 Tblsp. sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cup milk

Mix sliced berries with sugar and let stand for an hour or so- they'll make their own juice.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder & salt; cut in the shortening. (I use a pastry cutter but a butter knife & fork will do- or a quick wiz in a food processor) Cut together until mixture resembles crumbs. Stir in milk just until blended. Gently smooth out the dough into a ball on a lightly floured surface. Knead a couple of times be careful not to overwork it- that will make them tough, then roll to about 3/4 of an inch thickness. Cut with a biscuit cutter- heart shaped cookie cutters work great too. Place an inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet & bake until just golden for 10-12 minutes. When they are cooled cut them in half & spoon strawberries then whipped cream into the middle & top.