A Southern Grace: these ain't yo mamsta's biscuits...

July 28, 2009

these ain't yo mamsta's biscuits...

Yum

...they're MY mamsta's.


And they're heavenly.

Imagine, if you will, the most feather-light, melt-in-your-mouth biscuit you've ever eaten. These are better. That being said, even though I have the recipe, I'm convinced that it'll be years and years before I'm able to replicate it. Apparently it's more about the technique than the ingredients, and I haven't yet mastered my Mama-lama (ding-dong)'s methods.


These biscuits are the perfect vehicle for any number of things, from sausage patties to chokecherry preserves, from pepper jelly to bacon, eggs, and cheese. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack--they're delightful on all occasions.

Mammy's Beautiful Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
2-3 heaping tablespoons shortening
dash salt
bit o' milk

Cut shortening into the flour. Make a small well and fill it with milk. Stir briefly and turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead just until dough comes together and pat out to a thickness of about 1/2". Cut out the biscuits and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes. Turn on the broiler for the last minute or so to brown the tops, but watch them closely--nobody wants burned biscuits!

78 comments:

oneordinaryday said...

Oooh. {sigh}
I love biscuits and really only ever get them at holiday meals. And mine are never from scratch either. Maybe I should give your recipe a try. They look amazing!!
~Michelle

Amanda @ Mrs.W's Kitchen said...

Mmm, delightful. Now I needs to make me some biscuits & gravy. Now look what you've done.

Love the Shama-lama-ding-dong song reference, by the way. I thought I was the only one who still sings that around the house?

Albany Jane said...

The second I saw these I was like "These are the perfect biscuit" Seriously - I am really jonesing to try them out, but man... the technique... I tend to over knead. Maybe I'll try pastry flour.

They look so fluffy and airy!

Christo Gonzales said...

oooh yeah - gotta love a good biscuit and this is a good biscuit - I dont know if I want butter and jam or some good country gravy.....

Gloria Baker said...

Grace: THEY LOOK HEAVENLY, I loved them! and I love biscuits!! xoxoxoxGloria

kat said...

Those look pretty darn perfect to be! I have failed in my attempts for the perfect biscut

Lindsey said...

My oh my oh my. These look amazing, I think my mouth started watering just looking at them...I saved this recipe immediately, and hopefully I'll be able to at least somewhat replicate them!

Pity said...

wonderful photos, and wonderful biscuits, i am going to try them right now! thanks for the recipe!

pity

lisa is cooking said...

I believe those are the most perfect-looking biscuits I've ever seen! Now, I want to practice my biscuit making.

maybelle's mom said...

I have never made a great biscuit--yours look perfect.

LilSis said...

drool...I've never attempted biscuits from scratch, but I think I might just have to give these a try!

Jennifer said...

I say, I am so glad I found your blog, I have already found a bunch of recipes I want to try!!!

Chef Jeena said...

Wow they really do look so light and fluffy!

Jessica@FoodMayhem said...

Wowzers! That does look like the most perfect biscuit ever. I have a bunch of self-rising cake flour that I don't know what to do with....so I might try your recipe with it and see what happens.

Barbara said...

Scrumptious, Grace! My grandma's recipe does not call for self rising flour- in fact I have never used it. But these look so light, I'm going to give them a try. (forgive me, Grandma)

Sharon said...

Cooking is a little bit of magic when so few ingredients result in a masterpiece like these!

A. said...

So far, I've been able to make everyting I've ever tried except for homemade biscuits. I've tried so many recipes that are supposedly "no fail", and I still manage to make short, not-so-fluffy biscuits. I've finally given up and just go for the Pillsbury frozen biscuits. I may try this recipe just for the heck of it though. My grandmothers say that it's all in the kneading. You have to push away from you instead of down.

Lyndas recipe box said...

Oh, these look fantastic, Grace; light and fluffy and addictive! Yes, you can be addicted to homemade biscuits-your mom's are perfect!
I made some last night, so I think I need to go warm one up now and get out the honey! :)
My mom used to make chokecherry preserves; yum!

OhioMom said...

Perfect! I still haven't mastered daddy's biscuits, and it looks like I won't ... me thinks he used LARD!

Zoe said...

They certainly do look heavenly. I want one now!

Eve said...

SO. I've been on a misson as of late to introduce my Husband to some real good old american food.

Been cooking up a storm and I can not believe I forgot Biscuits!

They have nothing like this in the UK, nothing. Thank you and thank you Mamsta Grace!

fingers cross I don't butcher them. :)

jillian said...

These do look so light and fluffy. I always use butter in my biscuits, but I may have to give these a try. Beautiful!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Okay before I can give these a true thumb's up you need to overnite me a couple.

Tell your Mama-son thanks for sharing her recipe and when does her biscuit class start! :)
~ingrid

Melanie said...

It's so unfair when it is virtually impossible to replicate mom's original recipe. I cannot make biscuits for the life of me. They surely never look like your Mama-lama's. I'm very envious. Very.

Unknown said...

mmm...love me some biscuits!! I'll take a couple of those with some breakfast gravy and then a few with some homemade jam please! Even if you don't think yours are like yo mommas, they look pretty darn good!!

Jackie at PhamFatale.com said...

Oh those biscuits are probably the best ever looking biscuits I ever seen. It's like they are floating in air. Gotta try your recipe

BigSis said...

There's nothing I like better than a good biscuit...not a bagel, a croissant, a dinner roll, an english muffin, cornbread...nothing! These look really easy AND light and fluffy! Thanks, Grace!

Marjie said...

There's nothing like a light, fluffy biscuit. I think some people just have the magic touch for them.

SarahKate said...

Literally NOTHING beats a well made biscuit. Nice work... those look perfect!

Pam said...

Oh how I could eat 5-7 of those beauties right now.

The Blonde Duck said...

There's nothing better than a light, fluffy biscuit.

Cucinista said...

I gotta get me some of those! My grandfather used to make his biscuits in his old cast iron skillet. I'm convinced that was the secret to their taste.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

*whistles* now that looks like as light as a feather Miss Grace! Is that a cloud or marshmallow? No it's a biscuit?

Hungry Dog said...

Those are the most beautiful biscuits I have ever seen!

Abby said...

Go ahead and revoke my Southern cred: I cannot for the LIFE of me make biscuits. Hockey pucks? Yes. I can make THOSE.

Yours looks perfectly fluffy.

Maria said...

You can't beat a good biscuit, yours look perfecto!

MaryBeth said...

Your biscuit look absolutely perfect, slather it with some butter and homemade jelly and I would be all good.

♥peachkins♥ said...

it looks soft and pretty...

Emily said...

Those are the most perfect biscuits I've ever seen in my life!

Donna-FFW said...

Butter, jam and 2 of these I am in total Heaven. They look perfectly light, fluffy, and delicious. You so made them beautifully.

pam said...

I can just imagine them melting on my tongue right now!

Julia said...

I think you're right about the technique... I have a good recipe for biscuits but can't seem to get them so fluffy like yours. They look great!

alexandra said...

Wow. THose look like the most feather-light melt-in-your-mouth biscuits I have ever seen. Seriously, that is a feat. Amazing.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

What gorgeous biscuits! They look light as a feather. Much too hot to bake biscuits here, but I'll certainly keep the recipe for cooler days.

Sophie said...

They're light, airy and perfect. I always love making and eating biscuits! Lather them with honey or jam, slice them and make bacon/egg breakfast biscuits...the possibilities are endless :).

Katie said...

These look fantastic!!!

Jennifer said...

I LOVE biscuits!!!! Growing up there was always a batch on hand! nothing like a light fluffy biscuit morning noon or night!!

Nazarina A said...

I feel if I eat this feathery light biscuit, it will make me lighter too!!! You know how to sell your "stuff" girl! I love the idea of self raising flour!

Leslie said...

Oh wow...these dooooo look amazingly light and fluffy!

Chef Fresco said...

I'm trying to learn my dad's biscuits too! Your mom's do look nice and fluffy!

eatme_delicious said...

These look amazing! Yum yum.

Jacque said...

Oh my... those look so delicious! If these aren't perfect, I don't know what is.

Juliana said...

These biscuits look so fluffy and delicious...very light as well...yummie.

Linda said...

You can tell these biscuits have heart and soul in them.

The simplicity of the ingredient list to make those gorgeous biscuits --- i love it!!!!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Oh these look yummy! Great job!

Anonymous said...

wow. these look so light and fluffy. mine usually come out, way more dense.

Anonymous said...

All I say as I am wiping up the salivia off my desk,Dang...Total yummage!

Half Baked said...

Beautiful biscuits! They look perfect, light and fluffy...yummy:)

foodhoe said...

well I can see where your genius in the baking department comes from! mamalama dingdong's biscuits really do look heavenly. I can just imagine with melted butter. Lucky you!

Peter M said...

I would be concerned if a Southern gal such as yourself couldn't pull off biscuits. You did with southern pride.

Unknown said...

Those look soo soft and good. I think these could have a tagline of a peice of heaven.

kimberleyblue said...

i've never made biscuits, though i love eating them. they sound so easy to make - and tasty too! i guess i should give them a go. yours look super!

Lori said...

Thank you Mama lama ding dong and Grace. I feel like breaking out in dance here.

These sound, yum delicious. In a few weeks I am heading South for some of my TN sister in law's biscuits. Yeah baby!

I heard what you use to cut them and how you cut them will impact their feathery lightness. I need to give these a whirl.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

They really look like the best, beautiful.

Robin said...

Those are the lightest fluffiest biscuits I have ever seen since my mammy was alive-sigh. Mine have gotten better over the years but still do not look as fluffy as those!

felicia said...

these look beautiful, light and delicious!
bet it'll make an awesome breakfast.
thank you!

Anonymous said...

Someday I will achieve the perfect biscuit... next time I try, I think I'll give this recipe a try. :) YUM.

Stacey said...

But, look how BEAUTIFUL and lovely they are! If they taste like they look ... oh, gurrrrrrl!

pigpigscorner said...

WOw, the look pillow soft!

emily said...

Bless you, I've been in need of a biscuit recipe FOREVER.

Hallelujah!

Kate said...

I was once engaged to a fellow from Tennessee. His grandmother (Mimi) taught me to make biscuits. She also passed on her mojo to me. These look like they got Mimi-mojo!

white on rice couple said...

Oh these biscuits, oh these beautiful creations of amazing flakiness. You're a riot and we've missed your blog so much. Feels good to be back and visiting our favorite folks agian!!
hugs,
diane and todd

Laura said...

Well I AM a Northerner--which means I have lower standards for biscuits ;)--but by any standards those look awfully good to me.

Vera said...

They are heavenly, Grace!!!

Anonymous said...

One thing that makes the best biscuits is to use a flour that is made from a soft winter wheat as it has less gluten, therefore a lighter fluffier biscuit. Just look at the ingredients on the bag of flour and it will state if it is a winter wheat or soft wheat. If you want the tops to brown well spray the tops with cooking spray just prior to adding to the oven. Good biscuit baking.

Jaime said...

biscuits are always something that grandma does best :) glad you've mastered the technique so young! :)

Tracey said...

I can tell you one thing I'm biscuit challenged, no matter what I do I get rocks style biscuits that Ernest T. Bass can chunk as rocks. I haven't mastered it. I'll try these and let you know. Like you said it's technique for sure. These do look good.

grace said...

@Tracey: NICE ernest t reference! :)