Monday, June 15, 2009

Sunday Morning Biscuits

When I was growing up, Sunday mornings always meant biscuits with honey. Homemade biscuits, of course. My mother was a biscuit maker, and her mother before her. It’s amazing how many memories are built around food. My parents were raised on farms and thought a big breakfast started the day right. Mom wouldn't have served us a cold bowl of cereal if she'd had two broken arms! Eggs and bacon were required so that your brain could function properly at school. The honey for our biscuits often came from hunting trips Dad made into the woods. He would come across a "bee tree," a hollow dead tree that the bees had claimed. He would go back later and smoke them out, then gather the honey in a pail to bring home. Mom put the honey in Ball canning jars. It was beautiful golden stuff, sticky sweet and perfect on a biscuit or drizzled across berries. We didn't have the word "Organic" or "Natural" in the 1950's,my parents called it real food. When something was good, they'd say, "Now that's the REAL thing!" I am tempted from time to time to buy healthier choices. You know what I'm talking about. The products that have something added or something removed. Real food but "tweaked" to make it better for us. It never tastes as good as the original product. Get the rolling pin out and make something delicious for breakfast this weekend. Someday, somebody’s gonna remember what you fixed for them~make it yummy!

Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House-Style Biscuits come from Paula Deen's cookbook
"The Lady & Sons, Too!"

To make these great biscuits you'll need:
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons margarine
1/3 buttermilk
1/3 cup milk
*enough water to make the milks measure 3/4 cup
*I opted to just use Criso's Butter Flavored Shortening in place of adding the additional 2 tablespoons of margarine.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.


Cut in the shortening and margarine until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Pour the buttermilk and milk into a measuring cup and *add enough water to make 3/4 cup.
Pour this into the dry ingredients. Mix lightly and quickly with your hands to form a dough moist enough to leave the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by turning the dough away from you, pressing down with the palms of your hands, and pushing the dough away. Repeat 6-7 times. Work the dough into a large ball while kneading; keep your fingers dry by dipping them into dry flour frequently.

The recipe say to pinch off portions of dough, but I used Grandma's little rolling pin to make them extra~purty and placed them on a well-greased baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown on the top. You can give them a good brushing of melted butter before baking to add extra yummy~ness!

Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House-Style Biscuits
Yields about 16 Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons margarine
1/3 buttermilk
1/3 cup milk
*add enough water to make milks measure 3/4 cup
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Cut in the shortening and margarine until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Pour the buttermilk and milk into a measuring cup and *add enough water to make 3/4 cup. Pour this into the dry ingredients. Mix lightly and quickly with your hands to form a dough moist enough to leave the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by turning the dough away from you, pressing down with the palms of your hands, and pushing the dough away. Repeat 6-7 times. Work the dough into a large ball while kneading; keep your fingers dry by dipping them into dry flour frequently. Pinch off portions of dough and place them on a well-greased baking sheet. Press lightly to flatten the biscuits slightly. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown on the top.
*Recipe from The Lady & Sons , Too! Paula H. Deen

13 comments:

  1. Hi Joycee,
    I wanted to reach through the screen and take a bite. I love biscuits. Went to Cracker Barrel yesterday and had a few;) My favorite thing to put on them is apple butter...yummm!

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  2. I LOVE homemade biscuits!!! (I'm going to copy this recipe down) My hubby used to make homemade biscuits every weekend. Hmmmm that was years ago, he's been slacking. lol!!
    Your table looks lovely and inviting!!!! Beautiful job!
    ♥ Teresa

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  3. Now I am hungry again. I love a really good biscuit and it sounds as though we have one here. They certainly look delicious.

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  4. What a beautiful post!
    Your table and setting are simply gorgeous.
    I made home made biscuits for 47 years. Every morning before the hubby went to work and the children went off to school. I only make them now when the kids or grandkids come to visit since it's just me.
    I never knew what a store bought biscuit was... I still do not like store biscuits Lol

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  5. Feedsack FantasyMonday, June 15, 2009

    ... and what time are you serving? Chuckle! Wonder if they are as good as cousin Mayrene's ... think I'll try them out. TY

    Have a beautiful day. TTFN ~Marydon

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  6. Joyce they sound DELICIOUS!
    Your display stand is gorgeous too.

    Hope your summer is going well.
    ~Melissa :)

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  7. I sometimes make biscuits and cakes for my children....and for me.Homemade sweets are always better.Thanks for visiting me. Days ago I could not leave comments because you changed popup window.Now it's ok.See you.

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  8. Mouthwatering! I love your recipe I live in the south and There nothing like homemake biscuit..

    Thanks for sharing wonderful Biscuit :)

    Stop by visit me I will visit you:)

    Welcome~~~
    http://foodcreate.com

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  9. I love this post. Not just for the content but the memory. I have always made biscuits and passed it on to my son. My son is a wonderful cook and is not at all afraid to try new recipes. He does biscuits very well but he'll be the first tell you... and i giggle.. They just don't come out like moms.... :)

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  10. YUMMI! :)
    The smell of baking in a home is the smell of care. :)

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  11. and Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House food is fantastic! I'm sure Paula has done it justice!

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  12. What a beautiful picture! I want to sit and have a biscuit (or two) with you. You just can't go wrong with any of Paula's recipes can you? Have you read her book? If not, please do,,,,you will love it!

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  13. Lots of biscuit lovers out there! Becky, the apple butter suggestion is a good one!
    Teresa, I wish my husband would make breakfast...just once!
    Elsie, you sure are right about homemade being better. I do buy the frozen ones now that it's just the two of us and I can take them out on the RARE occasions we can have the calories. They are a little better than the canned ones.
    Marydon, do you have Mayrene's recipe on your blog? I want that recipe!
    Melissa, thank you so much for the comments!
    Anna, thanks for not giving up on my blog. I was having major problems with my computer so ended up buying a new one. Hopefully I won't mess up the settings!
    JoJo, you are so lucky to be close to this great restaurant.
    Nanny, no I've not read her book yet but my daughter has it. I admire Paula Deen, she "pulled herself up by her bootstraps" and figured out how she was going to raise those boys!

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