Showing posts with label biscuits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biscuits. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Country Buttermilk Biscuits


I know, I know! More biscuits? I promise this recipe is easier than the previous recipe -- it only has three ingredients! These biscuits are a bit more sturdy, however; they're not rock-solid or anything, but are more like the biscuits that you'd get a a Bob Evans. These can be made as drop biscuits or rolled out and cut for a uniform shape. These are great to use in egg sandwiches!

As I posted in my cornbread recipe, buttermilk is a critical flavor ingredient to this recipe, so it cannot be substituted.

Ingredients -- makes about 9 large biscuits

2 cups + 2 tbsp self-rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
6 tbsp salted butter


Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Place the flour into a bowl, and slowly cut in the margarine, working in with a dough blender. If you have a KitchenAid mixer, use the dough hook, and slowly cut in the margarine as it mixes. I highly recommend that you invest in a dough blender (pictured below). It is worth the investment if you plan on baking any sort of pastry, scones, biscuits, etc. They are about $12 US. However, you can use a large fork, and I've even used my hands to mash the butter into the flour! The dough (or pastry) blender makes things a little simpler.



After mixing the butter in, add the buttermilk slowly, blending with the flour/margarine mixture as you add.

 

When the dough pulls away from the sides and the ingredients are mixed, place the dough onto a well-floured surface. Flour your hands, and turn the dough a couple of times until it is smooth. Use a rolling pin (or a heavy glass if you don't have one), and roll out the dough. Use a biscuit cutter or glass and cut out the biscuits.Place on a baking sheet.

 If you prefer drop biscuits, do not knead or roll out the dough, simply scoop them from the bowl onto a baking sheet.


Bake for 20 minutes, remove from oven, allowing to cool for a couple of minutes before transferring to a plate. Serve warm. Will keep for 2 days in an airtight container. To warm, pop in the oven for 5 minutes at 350 degrees.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Fluffy and crispy buttermilk drop biscuits


Biscuits were the first thing that I ever learned to make, and buttermilk biscuits are my favorite. These are easy to assemble, mixed by hand, and require no kneading or rolling!

I'll start by giving the ingredients, then the instructions.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cake flower
1 cup buttermilk (see tip below)*
1/2 stick or 1/4 cup of margarine
1 tbsp baking powder (NOT soda!)
1 tsp salt

cooking spray for the baking sheet

Makes approximately 16 biscuits.

Turn on the oven and heat it to 450 degrees. While it's heating, start putting the ingredients together.

Like most baking recipes, start by mixing the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, which includes both flours, baking powder, and the salt.

With a fork, mash in the margarine until it is very broken up. Finally, add the buttermilk (using the fork is easiest), turning the dough until it resembles a thick paste. It will be very sticky.


Spray a baking sheet, then using a spoon, scoop out the dough and drop it onto the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between biscuits. Place the sheet onto the top rack of the oven, and bake for 15 minutes. If you do two batches, be aware that the second batch will not take as long, and you should keep an eye on them to prevent burning!

Pull them out and let them cool before plopping onto a platter for serving with butter, jam, honey, etc.

* Tip: Don't have buttermilk on hand? Use regular milk and add two teaspoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Give the milk a few minutes to "set" and it will work in the same manner as buttermilk!