Baking

This is the recipe I use regularly ...

Every Day Biscuits - Make and bake, or make and freeze, then bake

Yield: between 45 - 50
Gas 5/190C/ 375F

Metric Imperial
225g 1/2 lb butter, softened
100g 4oz caster sugar
225g 1/2lb SF Flour
5ml 1 tsp vanilla essence
To finish: sprinkle of icing sugar

Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add vanilla and fold in the flour
Mix to a smooth dough
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a minute or two. Roll into a sausage shape approx 5cm/ 2in in diameter, put in fridge to chill until firm.

To Freeze: Wrap in foil, pack in a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze.
To Thaw and Serve: Thaw in the wrappings in the fridge for approx 30 mins, then cut into thin (ish) slices, place on greased baking sheets and bake in a preheated oven for 10mins.
Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool. Sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.

Variations:
Chocolate: Sub 25g / 1oz cocoa powder for the vanilla.
Cherry: Add 50g / 2 oz glace cherries, finely chopped
Nut: Add 50g/2oz chopped almonds or walnuts.

Notes:
These take moments to prep. I make one batch and cut the 'sausage' in half before chilling. Once chilled to firm, one half is then put in the freezer.
The "dough" will keep in the fridge for a few days, so you can "slice" fresh biscuits as and when required.

And there are a few more in the Cooking section of the MEGA Index sticky at the top of the forum listing that you'll find under "biscuits"

Delia is always good for this. Just put biscuits into the search box.

If you can get it cheaply, or borrow from the library, Marguerite Patten's Basic Basics Baking is really good for techniques and simple recipes which like Queenie's above, have lots of variations. It's absolutely my favourite (and shorties, which are softened butter, creamed with sugar and flavouring, then mixed with s/r flour, are really simple bics for children as they don't take much strength and can be rolled out in the hands!).