Blue Ribbon Biscuits....

Ready to make biscuits.

Butter cut into dry ingredients.

Dough on lightly floured surface, kneaded 5 or 6 times.

Roll to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with 2-inch cutter.

Bake until golden brown; I like using a Silpat mat.

Ready to eat!  Yum!!

For a few years I have prepared entries for our area Fair in September.  One of my quests was to earn a blue ribbon for my biscuits, a prize that was elusive until this past September.  Following is the recipe I used for the first time last fall.  It comes from the Country Living Country Mornings Cookbook, 1989 edition.

GOOD PLAIN BISCUITS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 Tablespoons butter or vegetable shortening (I used butter)

2/3 cup milk

- Heat the oven to 450 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

- Add the milk to the flour mixture; mix lightly with a fork until the mixture clings together and forms a ball of soft dough.  Turn the dough onto lightly floured surface and knead gently, turning 5 or 6 times.

- With a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/2-inch thickness.  With a floured 2-inch cutter, cut the dough into rounds.  Place the biscuits, 1 inch apart, on an ungreased baking sheet.  Pat the dough scraps together, reroll, and cut out more biscuits.

- Bake the biscuits 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are light brown.  Yield 12-14 biscuits.

These may become Buttermilk Biscuits by using 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in place of 1 Tablespoon of baking powder.  Add 3/4 cup buttermilk in place of 2/3 cup milk.

The previous years, I had always placed second while using a recipe for Buttermilk Biscuits that I had printed off the Weight Watchers daily newsletter.  That recipe follows.

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk

1 spray cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Combine flour and next three ingredients in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Add buttermilk; stir just until moist.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 4 or 5 times.  Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness; cut with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.  Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.  Yield - 7 biscuits; serving size - 1 biscuit.

Thank you for reading, and I am really enjoying your comments.

Tomorrow - It's in the Cards.