Biscuits & Scones!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Real baking is an art, but when it comes to biscuits and scones anyone can make them. They require ingredients that most of us always have on hand, prep time is minimal and baking time even less so. The result is a delicious product that can be used to accompany a savory meal, a sweet snack when sliced and adding some butter and jam or simply on their own. The possibilities are endless.

They can also be made with regular milk, buttermilk or sour cream....the choice is yours. I also often add raisins or cranberries. Again, the choice is yours.

I made a batch yesterday to accompany a chicken casserole my brother-in-law likes to make.

Buttermilk Biscuits
2½ cups All-purpose Flour
2 TBS Sugar
2½ tsps Baking Powder
½ tsp Baking Soda
½ tsp Salt
½ cup COLD cubed butter
1 cup Buttermilk
1 Egg

In bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using pastry blender, 2 knives or your fingers, cut in butter until in coarse crumbs. Whisk buttermilk with egg; stir into flour mixture with fork to make soft dough. (I mostly do this by hand)

With lightly floured hands, press dough into ball. On lightly floured surface, knead gently several times, but not too much. Pat down dough (or use rolling pin) into a 3/4-inch (2 cm) thick round. Bake in 400°F (200°C) oven until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

You can brush tops with a beaten egg for a nice colour, which is what I normally do.

[Beaur]

One tip for those that don't like waste. Instead of using a round cutter just use a knife to cut a grid in the rolled out dough. Keeps the waste to minimum and you don't have to reroll the dough which makes it tougher. Also keeps the fat (butter) really cold. Do this by either cubing it ahead of time and putting it back in the refrigerator until rechilled or using something like an egg slicer to cut the butter so your hands don't warm it up. Fresh flour also helps with a better texture.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Those are all good points. Thanks!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Or...you could simply cut them into wedges (like a pizza pie)

[Johnny Vinyl]

Even simpler recipe:

2 cups of AP Four
4 tsp of Baking Powder
¾ tsp of Salt
½ cup of COLD and CUBED Butter or Shortening ( I use butter)
¾ cup + 2Tbs of Milk

Sift dry ingredients and add cold, cubed butter. I use my fingers to break down the butter until I get a rough crumble. Don't overdo it (not too fine).
Add the milk. Knead it gently until it forms into a ball. You may need to add a little milk if it appears too dry to form a complete ball.
Flour your surface and rolling pin as well. Knead dough about 5-6 times (no more) and roll out to ½" thickness.
Shape into rounds with whatever you have on hand ( a glass, a pastry cutter, whatever). Repeat with leftover dough.
Place onto a greased baking sheet and brush with milk or an egg wash. I use just milk.
Bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes.

This should make about 18-20 biscuits.

[cpp]

Here is my southern grandmothers

• 2-1/2 cup Buttermilk
• 6 cups Self-rising Flour, Plus More For Kneading
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 3/4 cups Lard (OR Butter OR Shortening OR A Combination) she uses lard
• Melted Salted Butter, For Brushing

Preheat the oven to 475 F.


In a large bowl sift together the flour and salt. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the lard (or butter or shortening or both) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a fork or wooden spoon until it all comes together. Flour the surface, then turn out the dough and knead 10-15 times, adding a little flour so it's less sticky.

Roll out dough to 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick and use a biscuit cutter to cut medium to small circles. Place on a baking sheet 1/2 inch apart and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Remove from oven and immediately brush on melted butter. To die for!

***Baking time will vary depending on the size of the biscuit cutter you use. I made mini biscuits, which took about 9 to 10 minutes. Larger biscuits will take longer, so keep an eye on them as they bake.

[Beaur]

Biscuits made this morning. Tomorrow will be biscuits and red eye gravy if there are any left!

[Triode Pete]

Biscuits made this morning. Tomorrow will be biscuits and red eye gravy if there are any left!

Beau, you Coonass! You'll eat anything! How about some boudin to go with dat?

[Bobm]

Nice breakfast for a snowy weekend morning. What time can I come over?

[Beaur]

Usually up aroud 7 on weekends. Have to come early if you don't want to be left with crumbs as my daughters are pretty good and scarfing it down! May get ambitious and do some sous vide eggs to tey out my new Christmas toy.

Music doesn't start until around 9 to keep the peace with the neighbors.

Nice breakfast for a snowy weekend morning. What time can I come over?

[cpp]

Nice breakfast for a snowy weekend morning. What time can I come over?

Thats a nice breakfast any old time , we just add some spicy sausage in our gravy

[Beaur]

Pete,

No boudin left. Have to make some!

Beau, you Coonass! You'll eat anything! How about some boudin to go with dat?

[Johnny Vinyl]

No offense intended and I like a lot of Southern cuisine, but gravy and biscuits just doesn't do it for me. OK...maybe if they're really bad biscuits. :P

[JCOConnell]

Its that white gravy I cant handle....