My own experience is pretty much limited to the "remove label, press on seam with a spoon" variety but Spenser seems to think it should involve flour and mixing and such whatnot, so let's see what we can come up with.
Baking Powder Biscuits[]
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. Salt
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup milk
Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening till it resembles coarse crumbs, make a well in flour mixture: add milk. Stir quickly with fork just till dough follows fork around the bowl. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Kneed gently 10 to12 times. Roll or pat dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with the mouth of sturdy drinking glass or biscuit cutter (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter).
Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Suitable for The Godwulf Manuscript ch. 12 and Stardust ch. 39.
Corn Flour Biscuits[]
As above but substitute corn flour (masa harina) as Spenser did in Double Deuce ch. 31
Whipped Cream Biscuits[]
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Measure flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Blend in the whipped cream with a fork until a stiff dough forms. Turn onto floured board and knead slightly. Roll dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into rounds with a 2-inch cookie cutter. Place well apart on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 425 for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes (16) 2-inch biscuits.
Mortal Stakes ch. 6
Whole Milk Buttermilk Biscuits[]
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Combine first five ingredients, mixing well. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal.. Add buttermilk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, knead lightly 5 or 6 times. With a floured rolling pin roll out to 2 inch thickness, cut into rounds with a floured 2 inch cookie cutter.
Place biscuits on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.
Makes about a dozen biscuits.
Cold Service ch. 9
From a Mix[]
Follow directions on the box. Here is a variation on one product that is said to produce even better results than the original.
- 2 cups Bisquick baking mix
- 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
Mix ingredients together with a fork just until moistened. Drop by tablespoons onto sprayed cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 450 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.
Susan used a mix in Ceremony ch. 2