Biscuits. Need I say more? Well....its a blog..so...I'm gonna. Growing up in the south, I have had more than my share of these tasty little disks of happiness. It pains me to think people buy biscuits in a can. Why? Why would you settle for something less than perfection when its something as amazing as the simple biscuit? I can make the dough from scratch before the oven pre-heats! Christ people! .....sorry.....I digress.
Tonight we took my favorite buttermilk biscuit recipe and added cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, green onions...and beer! I also made my own baking powder because we were out. Baking powder (single acting that is) is nothing but baking soda, cream of tartar, and corn starch. Now the corn starch is just to prevent the mix from clumping or absorbing humidity so no need to use it if your making it as you use it. To my surprise, not only did it work, but it worked better than my store bought baking powder! gotta love chemistry, eh?
oh, and no shortening for me. Pure lard!
Bacon-cheddar Beer Biscuits
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 tsp salt
5 Tbl lard (or shortening if you must)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup beer (something light. no stouts or porters)
1. Mix the dry ingredients until everything is evenly dispersed.
2. Add lard or shortening and work with finger tips to mix the fat into the flour mix . Should look sandy when done.
3. Stir in cheese, bacon, and green onions.
4. Add beer and buttermilk and mix until a sticky, wet dough forms.
5. Deposit on an ungreased baking sheet in heaping tablespoons. Bake at 425 F for 12-15 min until tops start to brown. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 min before tearing into them!
Tonight we took my favorite buttermilk biscuit recipe and added cheddar cheese, chopped bacon, green onions...and beer! I also made my own baking powder because we were out. Baking powder (single acting that is) is nothing but baking soda, cream of tartar, and corn starch. Now the corn starch is just to prevent the mix from clumping or absorbing humidity so no need to use it if your making it as you use it. To my surprise, not only did it work, but it worked better than my store bought baking powder! gotta love chemistry, eh?
oh, and no shortening for me. Pure lard!
Bacon-cheddar Beer Biscuits
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 tsp salt
5 Tbl lard (or shortening if you must)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup beer (something light. no stouts or porters)
1. Mix the dry ingredients until everything is evenly dispersed.
2. Add lard or shortening and work with finger tips to mix the fat into the flour mix . Should look sandy when done.
3. Stir in cheese, bacon, and green onions.
4. Add beer and buttermilk and mix until a sticky, wet dough forms.
5. Deposit on an ungreased baking sheet in heaping tablespoons. Bake at 425 F for 12-15 min until tops start to brown. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 min before tearing into them!
