Biscuits 101

This is an updated post from my old blog. It's been a long time since I've tried to make biscuits. Since today was a cold, rainy day, and I had taken a walk out in the autumn woods, the timing felt right for some homemade biscuits. The following is the simplest recipe I could find. My notes said it worked good last time and, being hungry, I doubled the recipe.

Baking Powder Biscuits, from a 1933 Recipe

Ingredients:

Original Recipe

Sift slour once, measure, add baking powder and salt, and sift again. Cut in shortening or butter. (this is where I use my hands by rubbing the butter into the flour). Add milk gradually, stirring until soft dough is formed. Turn out on slightly floured board and lightly "knead" for 30 seconds, enough to shape. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 inch floured biscuit cutter. Bake on ungreased sheet in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes 12 biscuits. You can also make tiny tea biscuits that are only 1 1/2 inches wide with a small cutter or glass bottom. These are great served with tea, jam or honey. Makes 24.

Lazy Cook's Recipe

Mix the above ingredients willy-nilly into a bowl, and make globs of dough on a flat baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees from 12-15 minutes.

My Last Experience

I'm not really sure what "tea biscuits" are. I assume that they are some sort of English biscuit that you eat with tea. Anyway, after mixing and following directions, the biscuits seemed a bit dry. I added a tad bit more milk than called for, to get a nice consistency, based on my vast experience (ha!) of making pancakes. Make sure that you use the floured board before trying to roll, as the dough seems pretty sticky. Also, make sure that you read the tablespoons before you get started, as I had a 1/4 tablespoon and 1/2 tablespoon, and I thought the 1/2 tablespoon was the "normal" tablespoon. I figured this out almost too late, but I got enough baking powder into the mix in time. I hope.

This Experience

Dough is a lot sticker than I remember.

End Result

Much better than the last time. Make sure not to overbake; otherwise, they will get too hard.