Best Mamas Biscuits Recipes

JAMES BEARD'S MAMA'S BISCUITS

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
• 2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt (and sugar, if using) into a bowl. Add heavy cream to make a light dough. Pat or roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut into rounds with a floured cutter or glass 1 to 1 and 1/2 inch in diameter.
• 3. Melt butter in 9-by-9-inch baking pan or small skillet. Dip each biscuit in butter on both sides and place either in pan or on a buttered cookie sheet (If you like your biscuits crisp on top and bottom and soft in the center, bake them in the (oven-going) pan.
• 4. Bake 12 - 15 minutes in the 400º oven, or until golden.

MAMA'S BISCUITS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• 2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• 3. Cut the chilled shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry blender until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
• 4. Add the buttermilk, mixing with your hands until the dough holds together.
• 5. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead lightly a few times just until smooth. Don't overwork it.
• 6. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.
• 7. Cut the biscuits with a biscuit cutter. ( My mama used a glass to do this.)
• 8. Place the biscuits 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• 9. Gather the trimmings from where you cut the biscuits and form them into a ball.
• 10. Roll it out and cut more biscuits. ( When these got to small to make another biscuit my mama left the last weird shaped one and called it the funny biscuit. All the kids wanted that one.
• 11. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

HOT CHICKEN BISCUITS WITH MAMA'S WHITE GRAVY

Steps:

• For the chicken: Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and hot sauce in a shallow casserole dish.
• In a second shallow casserole dish, combine the flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper.
• Place the chicken cutlets into the flour mixture, coating evenly on each side and shaking off the excess. Then place the chicken into the egg wash, coating the pieces on both sides. Dredge the chicken a second time in flour and egg. (If you like, you can dredge a third time; the breading will be thicker with every coating.)
• Heat the shortening in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Fry the breaded chicken until golden brown, about 2 minutes; flip and continue cooking until golden brown and cooked through, another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
• For the gravy: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Cook until the mixture begins to turn golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook until thick and smooth, another 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the hot sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, cayenne, paprika, brown sugar, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• To serve: Brush the chicken with the warm hot sauce. Place chicken pieces onto the bottom halves of the biscuits and top with white gravy and pickle slices. Cover with the biscuit tops and serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and 3 tablespoons of the sugar.
• In a small bowl, combine the warm water with the yeast and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar; stir until the yeast is dissolved. Let stand until bubbles appear, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Using your hands, mix the 1 cup cold butter into the flour, breaking the butter into small pebbles, until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk and the yeast mixture. Gently fold the flour into the wet ingredients. Keep mixing until a ball starts to form, then gently knead, 12 to 15 times, to create a smooth dough. Cover with a cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for approximately 1 hour.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and press out to 1- to 1 1/2-inches thick. Fold the dough in half, press again to 1- to 1 1/2-inches thick, and then fold again. Cut the dough using a 2- to 3-inch round biscuit cutter, depending personal preference. Brush the bottom of a cast-iron skillet with some of the melted butter. Place the biscuits in the skillet; brush the tops with melted butter.
• Bake until golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes, depending on size. Brush again with melted butter and serve immediately.

MAMA'S ' BESTEST' BISCUITS

Steps:

• Mix flour, milk and mayo together, reserving the second measure of flour for the board.
• Add the second measure of flour to the board and coat your hands. Turn out the dough onto the floured board or counter top. Sprinkle some extra flour on top of the dough. Just enough to make the dough easier for you to work with and not so sticky. You want to get it just to the not too sticky point but not add so much flour that they become dense. It is hard to say how much as this varies with the climate and humidity.
• Knead lightly just until the dough is smooth-about 6 times. The less you handle it, the better the biscuits!
• Pat into a square shape and make long cuts with a very sharp knife from top to bottom and then side to side--like a tic tac toe board and you will havce 9 biscuits. Add one extra line to make 12 squares. I usually cut to make 12, but make them as large or small as you like.
• Place on lightly greased or sprayed cookie sheet just a tiny bit apart- about 1/2 inch- and bake at 450°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until browned on top.
• Brush the tops of biscuits with butter or spray with butter spray and serve immediately.
• Note: Don't have any self-rising flour? Add 1 tsp salt and 1 T baking powder to the flour.

MAMA'S EASY BISCUITS

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly.
• Stir in milk until mixture comes together. Empty onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently 5 or 6 times just to form a ball. Pat down then roll to about 1/2 thick with a rolling pin. Cut into circles and place on a baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes at 425.