James Beards Mamas Biscuits Recipes

JAMES BEARD'S CREAM BISCUITS

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Fold in cream until it makes a soft dough that can be easily handled. (You may need to add up to a full cup of cream).
• Turn on to a floured board and knead for about one minute.
• I make these as drop biscuits: Take a large mound of dough (one heaping tablespoonful) and dip into melted butter.
• Arrange biscuits on a baking sheet spritzed with baking spray. Bake at 425 for 15-18 minutes.

JAMES BEARD'S BAKING POWDER BISCUITS

Steps:

• Sift flour into mixing bowl with baking powder and salt.
• Using fingers, two knives, or a heavy fork, blend butter and flour into very fine particles. (Don't beat any longer than you absolutely must!).
• Add milk and stir just enough to ake particles cling together -- it will be a very soft dough.
• (You may have to add up to another 1/4 cup of milk, for a total of 1 cup of milk in the biscuit dough.) Turn on to floured surface and knead for about 1 minute.
• Drop dough by large spoonfuls on to a baking sheet spritzed with baking spray.
• Bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes.

MAMA'S ' BESTEST' BISCUITS

Steps:

• Mix flour, milk and mayo together, reserving the second measure of flour for the board.
• Add the second measure of flour to the board and coat your hands. Turn out the dough onto the floured board or counter top. Sprinkle some extra flour on top of the dough. Just enough to make the dough easier for you to work with and not so sticky. You want to get it just to the not too sticky point but not add so much flour that they become dense. It is hard to say how much as this varies with the climate and humidity.
• Knead lightly just until the dough is smooth-about 6 times. The less you handle it, the better the biscuits!
• Pat into a square shape and make long cuts with a very sharp knife from top to bottom and then side to side--like a tic tac toe board and you will havce 9 biscuits. Add one extra line to make 12 squares. I usually cut to make 12, but make them as large or small as you like.
• Place on lightly greased or sprayed cookie sheet just a tiny bit apart- about 1/2 inch- and bake at 450°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned on top.
• Brush the tops of biscuits with butter or spray with butter spray and serve immediately.
• Note: Don't have any self-rising flour? Add 1 tsp salt and 1 T baking powder to the flour.