CHEDDAR BISCUITS

Cheddar Biscuits  
Makes 1 dozen.

Good with seafood.

2½ cups Bisquick baking mix
4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)
¾ cup cold whole milk
1¼ cup Cheddar cheese, grated
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, lightly combine Bisquick and butter with a pastry cutter or large fork, leaving small chunks of butter, about the size of peas. Blend in milk, cheese and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, cutting or mashing until dough just begins to set. (Be careful not to over mix; you want a rough dough). Using an ice cream scoop or large spoon, drop ¼-cup portions of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving enough space between balls of dough for biscuits to rise. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until biscuits are lightly browned. In a small saucepot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add remaining garlic powder and parsley. Brush butter mixture on the top of biscuits right before serving.

HOMINY GRILL BISCUITS

Hominy Grill Biscuits

4 cups flour plus more for kneading (use a Southern biscuit flour, like white lily)

2 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 tablespoons shortening

2 tablespoons lard

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

In large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut butter, shortening and lard into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or fork until mixture resembles crumbly peas.

Add buttermilk and gently mix until ingredients are just moistened. Turn mixture out onto a floured surface and knead lightly until it forms a cohesive ball, about 10 strokes. Using a floured rolling pin, or lightly floured hands, roll or pat the dough to a thickness of about 1 inch.

Using a lightly floured 2-inch biscuit cutter, stamp the biscuits from the dough and place on baking sheet, just barely touching each other. Bake in pre-heated 400 F oven until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Makes about a dozen buttermilk biscuits.