Down in the South, biscuits rule. Almost every meal is offered with a side basket of hot, buttery biscuits, and if not biscuits, there is fresh home-baked bread, hot buttered cornbread or fresh yeast rolls offered. That's just the southern way. Years ago, a simple recipe was created that brought the best of biscuits and rolls together. The result was a light airy biscuit that is just heavenly!
Angel Biscuits
The key to the lightness of these biscuits is the yeast.
Ingredients:
- 1 package of dry active yeast ( about 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4 cup of warm water, not boiling water
- 2 Cups of warm buttermilk
- 5 Cups of self rising flour
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 cup of shortening (Butter flavored works fantastic!)
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and shortening
In a small cup, combine yeast, water and sugar. Let this mixture stand for 5 minutes. Do not stir.
After 5 minutes, add the yeast mixture and buttermilk to the flour mixture.
Knead, roll and mix until a good dough is formed.
Roll out dough on a flat, floured surface to 1/2" thick and cut out round biscuit shapes with a biscuit cutter or a washed tin can top or a clean glass jar.
Ways to Use Angel Biscuits
Traditionally, once the biscuit is cut out, it is folded in half and the edges are scored with a fork. The " angel wing" biscuit is brushed with melted butter and baked in the over for 15-20 minutes at 350ºF. Another option is create hot pockets from these biscuits. Simply roll out the little biscuit shapes flat, fill with desired fillings. Fold, seal and bake. This biscuit dough would also make a great pizza dough or the dough for a pot pie.
Be creative. This dough is very cheap and easy to make. It can be used in place of bread, rolls, pizza dough and pie crust and dumplings. Also, consider using it in place of short cakes. With the price of everything going up, cooks are getting very creative with the basics. Try making your own hot pocket sandwiches, pizza rolls and stromboli using this dough. It might also make a great puffy taco or a warm comforting pot of chicken and dumplings. This Christmas, try using the base mixture in your sausage ball recipe.
The choice is yours and the variations and options are limited only by your imagination. This is almost a multi-use, no fail, gotta have recipe for every home. Have fun!
Amy Wingfield - Amy, a freelance writer since 1999, has combined her passion for writing and for Christian music.There's always a story behind the ...
