Boardinghouse Style Biscuits Recipes

BOARDING HOUSE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F.
• Whisk dry ingredients in a medium-size bowl.
• Using pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture is crumbly with a few pea-size pieces of butter.
• Stir in enough of the buttermilk to make a soft, sticky dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly flourd surface.
• Quick knead dough just until it comes together being careful not to overknead.
• Roll out dough until it is 1/2-inch thick.
• Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out biscuits and place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake until golden brown, about 18 minutes.
• Variations: Biscuits with Cheddar, Chives and Pepper--after you have cut butter into mixture, add 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives and 1/2 teaspoon coarsly cracked black pepper.
• Mix gently, then stir in the buttermilk.

GRANDMA WILLIAMS' BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease three 9-inch pie tins with 2 teaspoons lard.
• Put the biscuit mix in a bowl and make a well in the middle of the flour. Put the lard in the well and add the buttermilk. Gently mix the buttermilk and lard into the flour with your hands until a soft dough forms. If the dough is dry, add a little more buttermilk; if it's too wet, add a little more flour. Coat your hands well with flour and gently form the dough into balls a little larger than a golf ball. Place the dough balls in the pie tins, 7 per tin. Gently press each ball down to flatten.
• Bake until lightly browned on top and the biscuits release from the tins when you give them a shake, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the tops of the biscuits with the butter or margarine. Serve hot!

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add 1 tablespoon of the cold butter and the cold shortening and work it into the dry ingredients, using your hands, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk. The dough will be sticky. Dust your work surface with some flour. Turn the dough onto the floured surface. Gently fold each side toward the center. Pick up the dough and dust the work surface with additional flour. Return the dough to the floured surface and fold each side towards the center again. Turn the dough over and press it out to 1-inch thickness. Cut the biscuits, straight down, do not twist the cutter, with a 2 1/4-inch round cookie cutter. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and add to a 10-inch round cake pan. Place the biscuits in the pan, turning once (to coat both sides with butter), about 1/4-inch apart. Let the biscuits rest for 15 minutes before baking. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a bowl and using your fingers, mix the flour and coconut oil together very well until the mixture feels crumbly. Add the milk and mix (but don't overmix). Knead the dough just a couple of times, then roll it out to a thickness of 1/2 inch on a floured surface. Cut into 3-inch rounds and put the rounds on a baking sheet.
• Bake for about 3 minutes, then liberally brush the biscuits with melted butter. Bake until golden, about 12 more minutes.

MRS. WILKES' BOARDING HOUSE-STYLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
• Cut in the shortening and margarine until 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 palms of hands, and pushing the dough away.
• Repeat 6 or 7 times.
• Work the dough into a large ball while kneading. Keep your fingers dry by dipping them into dry flour regularly.
• 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, or until golden brown on top.