Make Sausage Gravy: Brown sausage in a large saucepan. Use a paper towel to blot out most of the grease from the pan. Add flour, butter, and half & half. Cook on medium-low, stirring often, for several minutes until thickened.

Make Biscuits: Stir flour baking powder and salt together. Add shortening and cut in with forks or a pastry blender until mixture is small crumbs. Stir in milk to form a dough. Pour dough onto a floured surface and shape into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick.

Mix eggs, milk and spices in a mixing bowl.

Assemble: Cut biscuit dough into 1/2 inch pieces and scatter half of the biscuit dough along the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan. Pour egg mixture over the biscuits. Spoon sausage gravy evenly on top, then sprinkle with cheese. Add remaining biscuit dough pieces on top.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-45 minutes or until eggs have set and biscuits are golden. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.