(Left out an r from stirring, but the Short Biscuit recipe is all right otherwise) The following is close to Kentucky Pat's recipe but without the bread machine.

BEATEN BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons lard
1/3 to 1/2 cup water and milk, mixed

Sift dry ingredients together, then cut in lard until mixture appears mealy. Add liquid a little at a time to make a stiff dough. Kneed thoroughly, then beat with a heavy mallet for half an hour or run through the coarse chopper of a meat grinder until dough is elastic. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with small biscuit cutter.
Prick tops with fork tines and bake on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes about 2 dozen.
We rarely have these- I can't remember the last time. Generally we go for buttermilk or short biscuits to save time and to avoid tennis elbow.

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk (or sour cream)

Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together into a bowl. Add buttermilk or sour cream and blend with a fork until you have a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board and roll 1/2 inck thick. Cut with a small biscuit cutter, place on a cookie sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven at 425 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until tipped with gold. Serve piping hot with butter, jam, honey, etc. Makes 12 to 15 (You may want to double the recipe!)

I indicated 2 to 2 1/2 inch size in the first recipe- 2 inch is large enough for the cutter.

The American Heritage cookbook has a note quoting the Marquis de Chastellux, who wrote of his travels in America (1780s). He remarked on the speed with which a tavern prepared them, "little cakes - galettes- which are easily kneaded and baked in half an hour...I always found them to my taste whenever I met them."
If you have a variety of cheese, thin slices of ham, jams, honey, butter, etc., you can sample more if the biscuits are small.