Homemade Biscuits

These are the biscuits I make to go with the Chicken and Biscuit recipe. They are delicious and would a great add on to a breakfast or brunch, too.

*Orignal recipe on momontimeout.com

Ingredients:

3 c flour

3 Tbs sugar

1/2 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

3/4 c. COLD butter

1 egg

1 c. milk (the recommend whole milk, but use whatever kind of milk your family likes)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450F

2. The secret to excellent biscuits is COLD butter. Really cold. Many times the biscuits dough gets worked so much that the butter softens before the biscuits even go in the oven. Try cutting the butter into small pieces and then stick it back in the fridge, pulling it out right before you are ready to incorporate it into the dough.

3. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.

4. Use a pastry cutter or two knives or your fingers to cut the cold butter into the flour. Don't go crazy here. You want to see small, pea-sized pieces of butter throughout the dough.

5. Add the milk, egg and mix just until ingredients are combined. The dough will be sticky but don't keep working it. You should be able too see the butter pieces in the dough.

6. Turn the dough out onto a generously floured surface. Sprinkle some flour on to the top fo the dough sit won't stick to your fingers and knead 10-15 times. If the dough is super sticky, just sprinkle on some additional flour.

7. Pat the dough out to 3/4 in-1 in thickness and cut into circles with a circular glass or cookie cutter. You should get 9-12 biscuits.

8. Place the biscuits on a lightly greased baking sheet or parchment linked baking sheet and bake 10-15 min, until golden brown on top. 

9. For extra yumminess, you can brush the tops of the cooked biscuits with melted butter.

Quick and Easy Dinner Rolls

Not sure where on the Internet I originally found the recipe, but this is my go-to recipe for rolls. I never seem to plan ahead enough to make dough that has to rise a few times. It is more like me to check an hour before dinner time to see what I had planned for dinner that night. These only rise for 45 min and cook for 12-15... Very good for a last minute planner. I often through together a batch of these, get the dough rising and then make a soup. By the time the soup is ready, the rolls are, too.

1 pkg quick-acting active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1 1/3 c. milk (105-115 degrees F)
3 to 3 1/2 c. flour (I use part whole wheat and part all purpose)
3 T oil
1 T sugar
1 t. salt

1 T. melted butter
coarse salt

Dissolve yeast in warm milk in an electric mixer bowl. Stir in 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, the oil, sugar and salt. Mix on low until soft dough forms. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Heat oven to 400F. Spray 12 cup muffin pan with non-stick spray.

Punch down dough in center and fold over a few times. Pinch off 1 inch balls of dough. Roll in palm of hands and put 3 balls in one muffin cup. Brush tops with melted butter, and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake 12 - 15 minutes until crust is light golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. Store loosely covered.

Buttery Rolls

These are the rolls I made for Christmas. They're super easy if you have a bread machine, and quite a crowd pleaser. It's originally from AllRecipes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (70 to 80 degrees F)
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 4 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. In bread machine pan, place all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).
2. When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 24 portions; shape into balls. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees F for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.