Buttermilk Biscuits

With the house to myself this morning I decided to make biscuits to go along with the Red Lentil Soup I made yesterday. The biscuits came out so fluffy and tasted amazing with my soup. I was good though I only ate two. My family has been snacking on them all afternoon. Warm biscuits are great on a cold Winter day!

Buttermilk Biscuits

(from The Best Marjorie Standish: Chowders, Soups & Stews- Down East Recipes)

2 cups sifted flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 rounded tblsp shortening

1 cup buttermilk

Sift flour, measure and sift together with salt, soda, cream of tartar and baking powder.

Cut in the shortening, using a pastry blender or 2 knives. Add the buttermilk quickly, using a fork for stirring into dry ingredients. Knead lightly on a floured board.
Cut in size biscuits desired, place on a greased pan and bake at 475 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Makes about 12 biscuits.

** I like to add 1 tbsp of sugar to the dry ingredients.
** If you do not have buttermilk you can use milk and lemon juice.

Homemade Mixes & Banana Bread

We are going camping for a few weeks, and I decided to make some homemade mixes to bring with. In plastic bags I mixed up all my dry ingredients, and then labeled the bags with the name of the recipe and what I need to add on baking day. I can't wait to enjoy the fruits of my labor!

Biscuits
(Credit: The Best of Marjorie Standish: Chowders, Soups and Stews)

The Mix:
2 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder

On Baking Day add:
2 rounded tblsp shortening
1 cup buttermilk or milk

Chocolate Chip Scones
(Credit: 400 Calorie Meals)

The Mix:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup chocolate chips

On Baking Day add:
2 tbsp Butter
1/4 cup plain yogurt ( I Like to use Greek yogurt)
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Corn Muffins
(Credit: Quaker Corn Meal)

The Mix:
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup Corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

On Baking Day add:
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
**I also like to add some cream-style corn to mine!

Old-Fashioned Flannel Cakes
(PA Dutch recipe)

The Mix:
2 cups flour
2 tblsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

On Baking Day add:
2 cups milk
2 eggs
2 tblsp oil

Pancakes
(King Arthur Flour)

The Mix:
4 cups flour
2-4 tblsp sugar
1 tblsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

On Baking Day add:
4 eggs
1 qt buttermilk, yogurt or sour milk
1/2 cup melted butter or oil

I usually divide this recipe up into four. It makes a lot!!

I also made up some banana bread tonight!! Yummy! Here is my favorite banana bread recipe:

Banana Bread
(Courtesy of Mom'n'Pop's Apple Pie 1950s Cookbook)

Makes 1 Loaf or 4 mini loaves

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
4 bananas finely crushed
1tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Cream together butter and sugar. Mash bananas. Add lemon juice to bananas. Beat eggs. Add eggs and bananas to teh creamed butter and sugar. Combine well. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Add vanilla. Pour into greased** loaf pan(s). Bake at 350F for 60 minutes. Keeps well refrigerated.

** I grease my pans with Wilton Cake Release.

Strawberry Shortcake!!

Yesterday on a whim, I picked up a few pints of strawberries from a local farm stand. It was the perfect opportunity to make Strawberry Shortcakes!

For the shortcake I made All-American Baking Powder Biscuits (A King Arthur Flour recipe):

3 cups of flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tblsp baking powder

1-4 tblsp sugar

4-6 tblsp butter or shortening (I used Butter flavored Crisco)

1 cup milk or buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 F

Mix together the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender cut the butter or shortening into the flour mixture.

Add the milk, all at once, mixing quickly and gently for about 20 seconds until you have a soft dough.

Drop the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 times. Roll out or pat out the dough to about 3/4" thickness and cut the biscuits with a round cookie cutter.

Place on tray and bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Prep Work:

While the biscuits cooked I cut up the strawberries and mixed them in a bowl with a little sugar.

When the biscuits where done I let them cool a few minutes. Then cut them open and spread a little butter on them. I put two halves in each bowl, spread strawberries on top, and sprayed whipped cream over the entire top.

Let's just say that they were so good!! We all devoured our Strawberry Shortcakes in no time at all!