Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  4             slices  bacon -- chopped
  2 1/3           cups  all-purpose flour
  4          teaspoons  baking powder
  1         tablespoon  sugar
  1           teaspoon  dried thyme
     3/4      teaspoon  salt
     1/2      teaspoon  baking soda
     1/2           cup  chilled solid vegetable shortening -- cut in pieces
     3/4           cup  buttermilk
                        melted butter

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400ø Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon trabsfer bacon to paper towels and drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, dried thyme, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add chilled shortening and cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add butter- milk, reserved bacon drippings and chopped bacon'; stir until mixture is just combined. Gather dough together. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead several turns until smooth. Pat out dough to 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer wedges to baking sheet, spacing 2-inches apart. Bake biscuits until puffed and golden about 18 minutes. Brush tops with melted butter. ( Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool vompletely. Wrap in foil' let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350ø oven until heated through, about 5 minutes.) Serve

Nutritional Information:

168 Calories (kcal); 2g Total Fat; (11% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 31g Carbohydrate; 3mg Cholesterol; 598mg Sodium