Angel Biscuits

Cooking Instructions

BAKING SHEET

1 baking sheet, greased or Teflon

BY HAND OR MIXER

12 mins.

In a large mixing or mixer bowl stir together the dry ingredients.

The mixer flat beater is good for this.

Drop chunks of shortening into the flour; work in the shortening either with your hands, 2 knives cutting across each other, or a pastry blender. The flour will resemble grains of rice or smaller. If using the mixer, the flat beater blade will cut the shortening into tiny pieces, almost indistinguishable.

Stir the buttermilk into the flour; mix it thoroughly but do not knead. With the mixer on, slowly pour in the liquid to form a heavy and wet batter. It will become stiff and workable when it has been chilled in the refrigerator.

BY PROCESSOR

6 mins.

Attach the plastic blade.

Measure all the dry ingredients into the work bowl. Pulse to blend. Uncover the bowl and scatter pieces of the shortening over the flour. Replace the cover; pulse 6 or 7 times to cut the shortening into the flour. Pulsing the processor on and off (rather than allowing it to run), slowly pour the buttermilk through the feed tube. The dough is not to be kneaded - only mixed.

REFRIGERATION

Overnight

Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and leave overnight in the refrigerator.

PREHEAT

Preheat the oven to 400 20 minutes before baking.

SHAPING

12 mins.

Pinch off only enough dough to make the desired number of biscuits - whether a half dozen, or the entire batch. Return the balance of the dough to the refrigerator or freeze.

Knead the dough under your palms for 3 or 4 minutes. Roll into a rectangle, fold into thirds, and roll again. Fold and roll one more time. The dough should be about 1/2" thick.

Cut the dough with a cutter of the desired size and place the biscuits on the baking sheet. Do not allow to rise.

BAKING 400

15 - 17 mins.

Place the sheet of biscuits on the middle shelf of the hot oven, and bake for 15 to 17 minutes, until the tops are nicely browned.

(If using a convection oven, reduce heat 50.)

FINAL STEP

Take from the oven - and serve with lots of butter and other good things.