The Way To a Man's Heart is Through His Stomach

Daisy had a little trouble with the biscuits she made for Cole. The secret to great biscuits is to remember that this is a food of love and you should handle the dough gently. Don't over-mix or over-knead, and you'll have great biscuits every time. If you substitute "healthier" ingredients, don't expect to get same the results. What you get out depends on what you put in.

Caveat: My momma didn't measure and so I didn't ever learn to cook that way. Once you catch on to the art of cooking, measuring just takes extra time. Well guess what--you can't share recipes very well when the instructions go like this: "Throw in a couple six or eight handfuls of flour depending on how many people you're feeding, and the right amount of baking powder and salt to go with it..." I know exactly what that means and some of you do, too, but some people prefer to measure everything, so here goes. This recipe makes 8 country biscuits (not those dinky little things).

Preheat oven to 450°

Ingredients

2 cups flour (plus more for the bread board)
1/4 cup sugar (more or less, depending on how you like it)
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cube softened butter (1/2 cup) Lard or shortening works but not margarine
1 cup milk (might not use all of it)
A teensy bit of vanilla (maybe 1/4 tsp)

What You Do
* Line 8x8 pan or equivalent with parchment paper (or grease the pan) * Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together.
* Cut in the butter (or moosh it with your fingers) until blended to pea-size lumps.
* Add the vanilla and most of the milk and mix. If you can't get all the dry ingredients incorporated, use more milk, but don't over stir.
* Sprinkle flour on the bread board and get out a glass or something to cut the biscuits. I use a drinking glass.
* Dump biscuit dough on the floured board and sprinkle flour on top and on your hands.
* Pat out until 3/4" thick--nice and even, and make the sides even, too.
* Cut the biscuits and place in the pan.
* Bake for 12 to 15 minutes

NOTE: Every oven is different so baking temperature and time might take a little trial and error to get just right for your oven.

2nd NOTE: Pat dough thinner, coat with cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter. Roll, cut, place in pan and bake. Voila! You have cinnamon swirls. Great with cream cheese.

3rd NOTE: Double the sugar, make the biscuits bigger, and you have yummy shortcakes!

4th NOTE: Make a thick gravy-based stew in an oven-proof pot, place biscuits over the top, and bake. Your man will love it. Guaranteed. We call this pot pie.