Buttered Cheese Biscuits by The Careless Cook

 

 

Some recipes are so good you won’t believe they’re so easy. Even The Careless Cook was taken aback by how quick and simple this one is.  Don’t have much time?  No sweat, no bother.  

 

In my own situation, I was informed that I really should get out of bed, get to the kitchen, and make a pile of biscuits for a ladies’ group of eager eaters.  I had less than an hour.  Thirty minutes would be about right.

 

Extensive recipes were out of the question.  However, goodness was paramount. 

 

Buttered Cheese Biscuits

 

Still in my pajamas, I raced to the kitchen and set the oven for 450ºF.

 

Here are the these simple ingredients:

 

2 cups all purpose flour

2 generous tablespoons of baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup of milk (I used oat milk because I like the flavor) Feel free to be generous with the ¾ cup and add a bit more milk if needed to make a soft dough

¼ cup of butter, melted 

¾ cup of shredded cheese (I used a pre-shredded mix of cheddar and pepper jack.  Using a bit more is better than a bit less.)

 

Whip this dough in shape! 

 

Time to use that big bowl and the wooden spoon.  Add all the dry ingredients, including the cheese, and mix well.  Then, add the milk and mix until you have a soft dough.  If it’s still stiff, add a bit more milk, but not too much!  You’re not making pancakes!

 

Scoop out generous tablespoons of dough and drop on an ungreased baking sheet.

 

Set your timer for 8-10 minutes and slip the biscuits in the oven.  With my oven it took the full 10 minutes.  You’ll know it’s done when the peaks are brown.

 

While the biscuits are baking, melt the butter.  I used the microwave. 

 

As soon as the biscuits are out of the oven, paint them with melted butter.

 

Ah, yes, just in time to feed the ladies’ hunger!  Also time to go back to bed.

**********************

Don't forget to subscribe!  And make comments!

Fluffy Cheese Biscuits by The Careless Cook

 

Fluffy Cheese Biscuits by The Careless Cook

 

You want the whole story?  I suspect not, so I’ll be as brief as this very brief recipe is. These biscuits are very light and fluffy!  A bit of this and that and you can sip your first cup of coffee while your creation bakes.  Oh, you want more specifics?  Ok, followed by a deep sigh.

 

First things first for this rapid fire, delightful biscuit:  Either a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa.  

 

Second step: Heat the oven to 450ºF. If you’re anywhere but the USA, try 175ºC.  Grease or put parchment paper on a baking sheet.  I used the parchment.

 

Ingredients

 

2 cups flour

1 cup milk

1 heaping tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt, or a bit less (A chef has to make a decision now and again)

¾ - 1 cup shredded cheddar (I suggest a full cup, but you’re the chef, so do what the hell suits you)

¼ cup melted butter + plus ¼ cup to paint the tops of the finished biscuits

1 large egg

 

Puttin’ it together

 

I used a handheld electric beater

 

Put the flour, salt, baking powder, and cheese in a large bowl and stir.

 

In a separate bowl, stir an egg and add the milk. Stir to combine, then  stir in a quarter cup of melted butter.

 

Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and use the beater to thoroughly combine.  Note: The dough will be sticky and soft.  If not, add more milk a little at a time.  Drop tablespoons of dough on the baking sheet.  I dropped a bit over a tablespoon (more or less) at a time.  

 

For this amount of dough I needed two baking sheets.

 

Depending on the size of your biscuits, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Judge by the tops browning.  Mine were done in 8 minutes.

 

Remove biscuits from the oven and paint the tops with the melted butter.

 

Now, while your ungrateful guests whine about not having enough for third and fourth serving. Ignore them and switch from a Bloody Mary to straight vodka. You also may want to skip the ice.

If you are a fan of quick and easy recipes and enjoy a little bit of humor with your morning brandy, please feel free to subscribe!

Fabulously Easy Pork Stew

I admit it; I’m a lazy cook.  I don’t mind a meal that takes four hours to prepare, as long as I don’t have to be in the kitchen the whole time. I have a lot more important things to do, such as nap and rearrange the wine bottles in the frig, just to name the top two.

Getting to the grocers to fondle fruit and stare at masked invaders counts as a travel adventure. 

Imagine my joyful surprise when I grabbed some sweet onions on sale, finished with the fruit and vegetable aisle, and found in the meat section that pork shoulders were also on sale.  I quickly laid hands on a 4 pounder and heaved it into my cart.  No idea what I was going to do with it, until on aisle 4, I met with another sale! This one a 2 for 1  for this and that canned goods.  I picked up cans of Cuban style black beans and fire roasted tomatoes.

Oh joy!  Oh rapture!  Right away a vision appeared of a quick throw together, and a free afternoon, accompanied by the melodious flow of French café music and glasses of delight wine, while said pork went to work in the oven to provide a heavenly meal.

I hear you and my three faithful readers breathing hard in anticipation of the recipe, but mostly in anticipation of the wine.  Have I failed you yet?  Mais non, mes amis!

Fabulously Easy Pork Stew

Ingredients…almost too few to mention!  

4 pound pork shoulder

1 can Cuban style black beans

1 can diced fire roasted tomatoes

1 sweet onion, diced

3 cups chicken broth (if you want it soupier, add more later)

1 tablespoon garlic powder 

Salt, pepper

Oven to 275ºF (135 ºC)

Cheese and green onion biscuits, and pickled red onions to accompany.  Recipes for these at the bottom of the page.  NOTE: Pickled red onions will need to be made a minimum of two hours before serving, or a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator.

Heat the baking oven!

Add the diced onions to a Dutch oven and add a bit of oil and lightly sauté.

For the roast, salt and pepper the pork, then slice it in four thick pieces and sprinkle on garlic powder. 

Put the pork in the Dutch oven with the sautéed onions, add the whole contents of the cans of beans and tomatoes. Cover and put in the oven for 3 hours.  (A perfect time to make your pickled red onions.) 

At the end of 3 hours, check for doneness.  The pork should pull apart easily, but if not, raise the oven temperature to 350ºF (180ºC), recover and roast for another hour.  Don’t worry about the time too much, just test the pork!

When the pork is cooked to your satisfaction, take the pieces out, remove the fat, and chop.  Skim off fat from the cooked stew and add the meat back.  Your supper is ready to surprise those who doubted your abilities in the kitchen, and who are already salivating.

Top their bowls of stew with pickled red onions and serve with cheese and green onion biscuits.

Pickled Red Onions

2 red onions, peeled and sliced thinly

2 cups white vinegar

2 cups water

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons sea salt

3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

1 tablespoon mixed peppercorns

1 quart jar

Put the sliced onions in the jar, add the peppercorns and garlic.  Heat the vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a sauce pan, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve.  Pour the mixture over the onion et al in the jar. Do not put on the lid until the mixture has cooled somewhat. Let it sit for at least 2 hours or store it in the frig.

Cheese and Green Onion Biscuits.

2 cups flour (or use 3 cups gluten free flour)

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons baking powder

6 teaspoons butter, but in small chunks

1 cup or more of your favorite cheese

3 green onions chopped

1 cup milk

I use my food processor.  Add all but the milk to the food processor to mix.  Well mixed? Add the milk and mix again until the dough sticks to the sides.

Flour a surface and roll out the dough to about a thumb width thickness.  Cut into squares or rounds and bake at 450ºF (230ºC) for 12 minutes.

Have you ever cut the lawn with barber’s scissors?  I find it creatively rewarding.  You can make wonderful designs, although it may disturb the neighbors. But, I thought their lawn looked great.  Also, don’t forget the fun of re-fluffing the clothes in the dryer.  Is it against the law to drink Jameson with your morning coffee?  What if you’re at Starbucks?  Just asking.

A Tea Party With Jane

Note my genuine, small tomato paste can/cutter

Slow but sure; medium heat

Fit for Jane A and her fans

I awoke reluctantly this morning, drenched in dreams and silently yearning for another hour of sleep. My wife leaned my way and whispered she had a Jane Austen party to go to and would I make something kind of Englishy to wow the lovely ladies she hangs with.  She didn’t actually use the words “would you.”

“Sure,” I said, both because I’m a nice guy and because I’m terminally task oriented and dedicated to public service.

“I have to leave in about an hour,” she purred.  Which put the pedal to the metal on the “would you make” part of the conversation.

“Jane Austen is an interesting person in a spinsterish sort of way,” I murmured.  “Never married.  Published her novels anonymously, Sense and Sensibility being her first, and she died in 1817, at the age of 42.  Buried in Winchester Cathedral. Now please let her haunt my dreams a little longer.”

“We’re going to watch the six hour BBC version of Pride and Prejudice, but you’re not invited.”

What joy flooded my happy veins! One brief task and the scullery lad would have the rest of the day to amuse himself!  All I need do was stylishly create some biscuits, some jam, arrange them with delightful aplomb, peck the wife on the cheek, and hurry her off to the hencoop.

            With my heart aflutter I scurried to the kitchen.  Over the years, I’ve become adept at scurrying. I was named ‘Best Scurrier’ in a three county area. 

Plus, my giant culinary brain already had a plan.  What is more English than a selection of dainty biscuits, and a pot of home made apple-ginger jam?  All of that can be made in less than an hour.

You already know the biscuit recipe and if you don’t, hold out your hand, while I fetch my ruler.  2 Cups flour, 3 Tablespoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 6 pats of butter.  Blend well.  Add 1 Cup of milk to make a dough.

To turn the J.A. party into a rollicking good time, I decided to bake three flavors of biscuits:  sweet, savory, and cheese.  First, I divided the dough into three equal balls.  To one ball, I added 1/4cup of sugar.  To the second, I added a 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. (use sharp cheddar if you’ve got it)  To the final ball, I added generous portions of oregano, basil, and black pepper.  Hey, jump in and help!  Roll the balls out separately to about the thickness of your forefinger. After the sugar biscuits are rolled and cut, pat a little more sugar on top. You should come out with 6 to 8 small biscuits of each flavor.

I like to vary the biscuit shapes and for the dainty digits of the Jane A. aficionados, I made them smaller than usual.  The sweet and the savory biscuits were round and the cheese biscuits square. 

Now do your part.  Put all the biscuits on a non-greased baking sheet and slide them into a pre-heated 450ºF or 230ºC oven.  Bake for about 12-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make a very simple apple-ginger jam.  I used Pink Ladies, but would have preferred a variety more tart, such as Macintosh.  The more tart the apple, the deeper the apple flavor.  But, when you have exactly one hour, and the flames of a woman’s scorn are lapping at your heels, you use what you’re got.

            Peel, core and finely chop 2 apples.  Put them in a pan with 1 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and turn the heat to medium.  Sprinkle on powdered ginger.  Finely diced fresh ginger would have been even better. (refer to last sentence of the previous paragraph)  Stir often and watch to see that the jam doesn’t get too thick.  This can be deceptive, as the juice flows out of the apples and the sugar melts, making the jam seem runnier than it really is.  Every now and then, put of a drop or two of the jam on the counter to test the viscosity.   When the jam is as thickened as you want it, it’s ready.  If it gets too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of water.

The oven timer rings.  Tasks complete.  Now what the hell am I going to do with myself for the whole day?  Ah ha!  She carelessly left me her copy of Sense and Sensibility.