Marisue’s Aunt’s Biscuits

Move over Grandma, these biscuits will float by!  The Christmas Holiday Brunches are made extra special with these light and flaky biscuits.  Also great for special slow, weekend breakfasts!  So easy to make, you’ll do it over and over.

Aunt Lady’s Buttermilk Biscuits De-Lite!

Ingredients: 

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbls sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cream of tartar (secret ingredient, a MUST)
• 3/4 cup butter or 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup shortening combined.
• 1 1/4 cup buttermilk

Procedure:

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together all dry ingredients.  With a pastry blender, cut in the butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs.  Form a well in the center of the flour mixture and add buttermilk all at once.  Using a fork, stir just until moistened.
2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead dough by folding and gently pressing dough for 4 to 6 strokes and the dough holds together.
3. Pat or lightly roll dough until 3/4 inch think.  Do not over handle dough as it will become tough.
4. Cut the dough with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. 
5. Place biscuits 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. 
6. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10 – 12 minutes or until golden.  Do not overbake.  Serve warm, with butter, jam, honey, you name it!

Grandma will be envious of these!

Grandma’s Christmas Buttermilk Cake

This cake is a delicious, moist, easy from scratch, homemade cake sure to dazzle your guests!  Even if you’re a new cook, you can do this!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 c brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 c butter, or shortening
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs, beaten slightly
• 1 1/3 c buttermilk
• 1/2 c chopped nuts, optional

Procedure:

1. Prepare cake pan by greasing the bottom and sides, and lightly dust with flour.  Shake off excess.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and salt.  Add butter until mixture is similar to coarse crumbs, set aside 1/2 cup.
3. Stir together baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining crumb mixture.
4. In separate bowl, combine eggs and buttermilk.  Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture.  Spoon batter into prepared pan. 
5. Take reserved crumb mixture and add the nuts, if desired and sprinkle over cake in pan.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Serve warm with whipped cream if desired.  It’s also good with a powdered sugar glaze drizzled over the warm cake.