Thursday, December 17, 2009

Buttermilk Biscuits

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After composing my authentic Southern meal in my head, I was all set to use Bisquick to make some easy biscuits for dinner. Then I told myself - nope! 100% from scratch!

I found this recipe online, attributed to Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons cookbook. I halved it (shown below) and it still made 12. Woo boy does that woman like to overdo things or what!!?

1 1/8 tsp yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup buttermilk (*see note below)

Preheat oven to 400°. Dissolve yeast in the warm water and set aside.

Mix the dry ingredients together and then cut in the shortening. Add the yeast and buttermilk, mixing well. If you do not have buttermilk on hand, just make your own by adding about 1 Tbsp of white vinegar or lemon juice to the cup of milk and let sit for a few minutes, it'll thicken up.

Turn dough onto a lightly flowered surface and using the palms of your hands, press out to about 3/8" - 1/2" thick - no need to roll! Using a biscuit cutter (or a floured glass if you don't own one) cut out the biscuits. I've heard to not "spin" your cutter, you'll "seal" the edges of the biscuit and it won't rise as well. Instead, make a smooth down-up motion while cutting the biscuits.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until golden brown.


If you're going to be enjoying biscuits 'n gravy, like we did with the chicken fried steak, grab a biscuit or two and split it in half.

Ladle over some sausage gravy and thank your lucky stars for Southern cooks everywhere!



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5 comments:

Alisa - Frugal Foodie said...

Yum, those came out perfectly!

shanna said...

Hey! I found your blog in this month's Taste of Home and had to come over because you're a local Chicagoan! Orland Park or somewhere like that, right? Great to meet you and I'm excited to see your healthy recipes - pursuing those is a New Year's Resolution of mine. :)

test it comm said...

Those biscuits with sausage gravy look so good!

Christina said...

Thanks guys! I'm glad it ended up making 12 b/c I got to eat leftovers like 4 times! Mmm, each time my mouth watered waiting for it to heat up! hehe

Chef E said...

You have made something I want often, and then the gravy puts it over the top!