Saturday, May 21, 2022

Easy Buttermilk Biscuits

These Easy Buttermilk Biscuits are delectably soft, flakey, and buttery.  They are so simple to make you'll wonder why you hadn't made them before!



Easy Buttermilk Biscuits


Confession:  I'm a biscuit lover.  Always have been, always will be.  These are the Southern quintessential staple for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  This recipe is so easy to make.  Virtually one bowl and a quick simple dough is made which turns in to the most heavenly, soft biscuits you will have ever had.  Now these biscuits are heavy on the butter, and will taste that way as well. Which, quite frankly, are a wonderful indulgence on occasion!  If you are watching your calories, these are not for you but you might enjoy some of my other biscuit recipes listed below.

Serve these up with butter and jelly for breakfast.  Serve alongside as a hot roll with dinner, or make a wonderful ham sandwich with them for lunch.  Anyway you slice them they are heavenly!





What Ingredients do I need?

  • self rising flour - White Lily, King Arthur, and Gold Medal are all good brands
  • baking powder - even though we are using self rising flour we are still adding baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • unsalted butter - I prefer unsalted butter so you can control the sodium content
  • 1 egg 
  • buttermilk


Substitutions and Variations

  • You can use regular all purpose flour but the rise will not be as high on the biscuits.
  • Use whole milk instead of buttermilk but they will not have the tang buttermilk gives.



Kitchen Tips and Notes

  • No buttermilk?  Make sour milk by adding 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to the milk
  • No self-rising flour.  Make you own: 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • For tall biscuits, press the biscuit cutter straight down and then back up without rotating the cutter around the biscuit.
  • Cut your butter in to small cubes. It will be easier to cut in to the flour.
  • Use two forks if you don't have a pastry cutter.



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Easy Buttermilk Biscuits


yield: 8 2" biscuits


2 cups self rising flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, cut in to chunks
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add the butter and ust a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of small peas.

Combine egg and buttermilk and add to the flour mixture.  Stir with a spoon until combined and dough holds together when pressed.  Refrigerate the dough while you preheat the over to 400 degrees.

Turn dough out on to a floured board and press it into a round that is 1/2 thick.  Use your hands or a rolling pin.  Using a 2" biscuit cutter, but out biscuits, pressing down and up (don't turn the cutter as this reduces the height of the biscuit). Re-roll any dough scraps and cut out the remainder of the biscuits.

Arrange on a baking sheet.  Bake in the oven 15 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with butter and/or jelly.













Saturday, May 14, 2022

Tomato and Farro Salad

This healthy farro salad combines a high-fiber whole grain, sweet cherry tomatoes, and basil for an easy side dish.



Tomato and Farro Salad 


Spring and summer are for light and fresh dishes.  I love adding different whole grains to my salads and today we are talking farro.  Farro is an ancient grain with a nutty flavor.  You want to buy a pearled variety unless you have the time to cook the whole grain.  It has a wonderful chew and is perfect as a cold salad side dish or as a warm side dish in place of rice.

Today we are making a cold salad side dish and adding fresh cherry tomatoes and basil to the mix and then we are topping it off with some white wine vinegar for a spark of flavor.  Perfect for summer grilling season, picnics, or potlucks.   Bursting with flavor, this salad is a winner.

Enjoy!





What Ingredients do I need?

  • farro - for quick cooking choose a pearled variety
  • cherry tomatoes - I chose multi-colored tomatoes for more of a color pop
  • white wine vinegar
  • fresh basil


Substitutions and Variations

  • Add different herbs - mint or dill would be great
  • Add more vegetables - zucchini, cucumber, or yellow squash
  • Add some feta cheese
  • Serve warm with tomatoes and mushrooms, or green beans, onions, and tomatoes




Kitchen Tips and Notes

  • This is a very good farro.
  • This salad can be served cold or at room temperature.  
  • To cool salad faster rinse cooked farro in cold water, or plan to allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.


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Tomato and Farro Salad 


1 cup farro
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
¼ cup chopped fresh basil

Place farro in a medium saucepan; add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool 15 minutes.

Add the tomatoes to the bowl along with the basil. Add salt and pepper.  Drizzle with the vinegar and stir to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.











Saturday, May 7, 2022

Raspberry Moscato Punch

An easy to make wine punch that combines sinfully delicious Moscato wine, tart raspberry lemonade, and fizzy sparkling water to create a celebratory drink for all occasions!




Raspberry Moscato Punch


With springtime upon I find that we are doing more brunches, outdoor get togethers and celebratory everts.  Light drinks are the perfect accompaniment to spring occasions, and my Raspbery Moscato Punch is simple, yet elegant.  

Made with Moscato wine, which is a sweeter wine with low acidity, convenient store bought raspberry lemonade, and topped off with a lime sparkling water for a little fizz.  Don't forget to garnish your drink with a few berries to make this visually pleasing.   Such a great drink for the spring and summer season, and perfect for holiday such as Easter or Mother's Day.

Enjoy!


Favorite Moscato wines:

Risata Moscato d'Asti
Vietti Moscato d'Asti Cascinetta Vietti
Innocent Bystander Pink Moscato
Stella Rosa Red Apple
Stella Rosa Moscato d'Asti



 


What Ingredients do I need?

  • Moscato wine - either regular or d'Asti
  • raspberry lemonade
  • sparkling water
  • raspberries
  • blueberries


Substitutions and Variations

  • A rose' wine would be nice but a little drier and not as sweet
  • Use strawberry lemonade instead of raspberry lemonade
  • Use a combination of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or kiwis for garnish




Kitchen Tips and Notes

  • Freeze your fruit garnish to keep the drink cold longer
  • Make sure to chill your wine well prior to serving
  • Increase the recipe as need, or make a picture with about 1/3 of the total picture for each ingredient



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Raspberry Moscato Punch


serves 1


1/2 cup of chilled Moscato Wine 
1/2 cup of refrigerated lite raspberry-flavored lemonade
Sparkling water, lime flavored
Garnishes:  Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries
In a glass add the wine, and lemonade, and then top with sparkling water.  Garnish with raspberries and blueberries.  









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