Sunrise Biscuits

When it comes to making homemade biscuits, I have not been the best cook.  My husband's grandmother, as we call her Grandma Gladis and who is 86 years old, makes everything from scratch.  I called Grandma Gladis to find out how she makes her biscuits and she tells me a bit of this and a bit of that.  Nothing is measured and as long as Grandma Gladis has been cooking, I guess she knows it by heart.  So I go by Grandma Gladis's recipe but I find measurements for me.  Also, Grandma Gladis will freeze her biscuits so she can get what she needs for the day.  

First, preheat oven to 450 F.  In a large bowl, add 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.  In a measuring cup, add 2 tablespoons of cold butter and add shortening to measure out to 1/3 cup.  Cut in the shortening and butter thoroughly, until the mixture looks like cornmeal.  Add 2/3 cups of buttermilk.  If dough is not pliable, add just enough milk to make a soft, puffy, easy-to-roll dough.  

Since I started making bisuits, I have bought a pastry cloth and cloth for my rolling pin.  I will lightly flour the pastry cloth and knead lightly 20 to 25 times, about 1/2 a minute.  You can roll the dough to the thickness you prefer but I roll my biscuits less than 1/2 inch thick.  

Cut with a floured biscuit cutter or a clean, floured drinking glass.  I use a drinking glass because my husband likes a larger biscuit.  Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.    

For freezing biscuits for later use, after cutting out the biscuits, place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 425 F for 8 to 10 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits and lightly brown.  Put the baking sheet in the freezer and once the biscuits are frozen, place the biscuits in freezer bags.  When you're ready for breakfast, place the frozen biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet or cake pan and bake at 375 F for about 10 to 12 minutes.  As the ole southern sayin' goes, these will make your tongue smack your brains out.  :)