Pages

Jan 24, 2011

Make Ahead Monday-Biscuits

I am not promising that this will be a regular feature on my blog ( I don't want to promise something I may not be able to maintain) however I have been thinking about "make ahead" ideas and so when I do have some to post it will be on Mondays.
Today's "Make Ahead" idea is biscuits.  I love biscuits for breakfast with jam, as biscuits and gravy or along with a chicken or beef stew.  I wouldn't say they are hard to make, but time consuming if you haven't really planned ahead.  So this is what I do now: on a day when I have some time I make a full batch or a double batch, cut the biscuits and put them on a lined cookie sheet.  Then I put this in the freezer until the biscuits are solid.  I bag them up in either certain quantities or in one big bunch and store them in the freezer.  Then when I am wanting biscuits I just pull out as many as I need, put them on my cookie sheet and bake.  They only take a minute or two longer to cook from frozen and...
you have fresh, golden fluffy biscuits whenever you need.
Here is my recipe with a few additional hints to make "AWESOME" biscuits.
2 1/4 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (cold)
1 cup milk

In a large bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut the butter in 1 tbsp sized slices and add to the flour.  Using a pastry blender or two butter knives cut in the butter until you are left with small chunks. (HINT: don't cut your butter too small.  The flakiness of the biscuit depends on the size of the butter chunks so don't get carried away).  Pour over the milk and mix with a fork until the dough comes together.  It will be sticky.  Dump dough out onto a very lightly floured surface and knead only a couple of times to ensure everything has come together.  (HINT: over mixing/kneading will result in tougher biscuits).  Flatten dough ball into a round disk (not to thin-about 3/4" is perfect).  Cut biscuits.  (Here is where you would freeze them).  Bake at 450F for 8-12 minutes (slightly longer if frozen).

3 comments:

  1. I love anything I can make ahead and store in the freezer for another day, saves me so much time. I have a list of websites I used for recipes and a few of my own on my blog if you are needing some new ideas. I'll definately be trying to make these biscuits. thanks for the recipe!

    lisasalwayshomemade.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am excited to see your make ahead ideas. I love anything that makes life easier, and I love to make ahead. I have a favor, if you have time... could you do a post on freezing bread dough? I have always wondered at what point do you freeze bread dough, after it raises the first time, before that, after the second time? thanks so much for your great blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heather this is such a neat idea - why hasn't anyone thought of it before? I am definately gonna try this recipe. I am with Laralee too. I have a bread maker which can make dough for me but when exactly do I freeze it?

    ReplyDelete