HERITAGE WHEAT STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• To prepare the strawberries:
• Chop half of the strawberries and mash well in a small bowl.
• Thinly slice the remaining strawberries and add to the mashed berries, leaving a few aside for garnish.
• Add the date sugar, combine well, and allow to sit at room temperature while you make the biscuits.
• To prepare the biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
• Add the cold butter and mix with a pastry blender or very quickly with your hands until the mixture reaches a mealy consistency. (If mixing with your hands, it's important that you work quickly so the body heat from your hands doesn't melt the butter at all. Melted butter will absorb flour and will result in a tougher biscuit.)
• Add milk a little at a time and combine until the dough forms a ball.
• Place the dough onto a floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into biscuit shape. (I use a biscuit cutter passed down through my family but a glass turned upside down would work, as well.) Continue to roll out and cut into biscuit shape until no dough remains.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes.
• Place on a cooling rack while making the whipped cream.
• For the whipped cream:
• Place whipping cream in a mixer (alternately you may whip by hand), and add the date sugar.
• Whip until thick and creamy.
• To assemble:
• Slice cooled biscuits in half lengthwise.
• Spoon some of the strawberry mixture over the bottom half of the biscuit, followed by some of the whipped cream.
• Place the top half of the biscuit on the bottom half and repeat by spooning both strawberry then whipped cream mixtures on top.
• Place sliced strawberry on top for garnish and serve.