Biscuits (just like Popeye's)

Since my first post was about Sweet Tea, I figured the next one should be about Biscuits.  You can't get more Southern than those two things.  But don't panic, these are not difficult to make at all!

Now, my Maw Maw Fannie (that's Grandmother to those of you not from Louisiana) was the Biscuit Queen!  She would get out all her ingredients and make a giant pile of flour with a well in the middle and just start adding things.  Then she would mix it with her hands till it felt right (no recipe or measurements) and knead it and pat it out in a giant circle.  Then she would use a glass to cut them out - no fancy biscuit cutter for her!  I remember standing by her in the kitchen and just watching in awe while she performed her Biscuit Magic!

Well, my biscuits use short cuts and don't take nearly as long to make, but they still taste magical!

JUST LIKE POPEYE'S BISCUITS (Popeye as in Chicken - not the cartoon character :)


4 cups Baking Mix (Bisquick)*
3/4 cup Club Soda
8 oz Sour Cream
1 stick butter or margarine


Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  In a large bowl combine baking mix, sour cream and club soda.  Stir well.  Melt butter.  Pour half butter in baking dish.  Knead the dough on a floured surface a few times.  Press out the dough evenly till about a 1/2 to 1 inch thick.  Cut out with a biscuit cutter (or a glass or an empty can).  Place on top of the butter in baking dish.  Bake at 450 degrees for 14-15 minutes.  Once baked, pour the other half of the butter on top.  


These are so good!  

*Baking mix - you can make your own and save a lot of money!


BAKING MIX


6 cups all-purpose flour
3 TBS baking powder
2 tsp salt
3/4 cup shortening


In a very large bowl, combine flour, baking powder & salt.  Cut in shortening with a pastry blender (or two forks) until well blended.  It should look like sand.  Then store it in an airtight container.  Use it in place of Bisquick.  This cost pennies compared to buying the pre-made stuff.  And you can do a lot with it!


If you want to make a less fattening biscuit than the one above:


REGULAR BISCUITS


2 cups Baking Mix
2/3 cup milk


That's it.  Just mix those two ingredients together and knead and roll out then cut out with a glass.  Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.  If you're really lazy just make drop biscuits.  you don't have to knead or roll out the dough or anything!  Just mix and then drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto the baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.  Boom Zoom Easy!  A great quick bread to go with supper.  
If you're feeling particularly energetic you can jazz it up with green onions or cheese.  But I mostly just drop 'em.  They are ugly, but who cares...you're just gonna slather them in butter and eat 'em!


You can also use this mix for pancakes, waffles, anything you do with Bisquick.  I hope they don't sue me for telling you this.  Oh well, I don't have much to take anyway...can I offer you some Sweet Tea and a Biscuit?


Another thing you can do with this Baking Mix is make Dumplins.  If you aren't from this neck of the woods you may be saying to yourself,  "What's a Dumplin'?  It's pretty much just a biscuit that's simmered in a broth of some sort.  Sounds weird, but it is delicious!  Like Chicken and Dumplins.  Oh heck, I guess I'll give you that recipe, too.


EASY CHICKEN & DUMPLINS


2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1 quart chicken broth
2 cups baking mix
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt/pepper
oil

Season chicken with salt & pepper.  Heat a little oil in a dutch oven (big pot with a lid).  Brown chicken for a few minutes.  Remove and set aside.  Saute onion, celery & carrots in oil until limp.  Season them with salt & pepper, too.  Add chicken back to the pot.  Add broth.  Bring to a boil.  Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix baking mix, milk and parsley until combined (don't over mix!)  When broth is boiling, drop dough by teaspoonful into broth.  Be careful not to burn yourself.  I do all the time!  After you've dropped all dough, put the lid on and lower the heat to a simmer.  Simmer with the lid on (don't open the pot!) for 12 minutes.  Then turn it off, remove the lid and prepare to eat the ultimate comfort food!  There is nothing better on a cold or rainy day.  But I make it on sunny days, too because it is my favorite meal!


I don't have a picture of this because I just thought to add it.  But I'm sure I'll make it soon and I'll show you one then.

Now, go make some baking mix and save yourself some dough.  (Corny joke)