Monday, August 17, 2009

I Come From a Long Line. . .

. . . Of biscuit makers! Suz has started something. She has decided it was high time she learned how to make biscuits. My mama makes biscuits. My grandmothers made biscuits. My great-grandmother made biscuits. And the buck stopped with my mama. None of the three of us girls has ever mastered the art of baking biscuits. At least ones that wouldn't knock a horse down if you threw them.

So. . . today I decided that if Suz could do it, then I could do it. At least try. With two cups of flour, a quarter cup of shortening and between three-fourths and a full cup of buttermilk, how hard could they be?

I made two batches. The first pan had more buttermilk -- a full cup -- and the second pan only had three-fourths of a cup. The first pan was pretty good. The second pan I may throw at my insurance company if they don't soon let me know something about Cam's truck. They were a little dry and hard.

Suz has made them several times trying to perfect them -- or rather, should I say, make them as good as our mama's. She said she's almost got it. I'm pretty excited, though, because I've never even tried to make biscuits. For a first attempt, I did a pretty good job. I'm thinking bacon. I'm thinking cheese. I'm thinking egg. Or maybe just plain ol' honey.

So I give myself a pat on the back for giving the unthinkable a shot. I just may make a pan of biscuits every day. I bet my grandmothers in heaven are smiling down on Suz and me for keeping the biscuits coming!

Till tomorrow.

11 comments:

Theresa said...

I am PROUD of you! I love a biscuit with some Karo syrup:) I know your Mama makes some good ones and so does Cynthia! Give your hands a good work-out. You "kneaded" that:) Get it... hehe

Cindy Lou said...

I know you can do it!! Hey let me give you a little tip...use more lard/crisco! It will help with the dryness!! Coat your pan really good with lar/crisco and that will help also...I will help you!! I am so proud of you and I know that before it is all said and done you will be making the best biscuits ever!!! I love you!!

Missy said...

My mother makes the best biscuits! I cannot for the life of me make biscuits or dumplings! LOL

suzanne said...

Thanks to Cynthia! I will use her tips. My mama gave me some good ones, too. Biscuits closer together on the pan, fluffier biscuits. Biscuits farther apart on the pan, crunchier biscuits. It's an art form, ya know?
I got an idea, you bring yours Sunday and I'll bring mine and we'll see whose is better?
Yours will probably win. I'm getting there though...
love ya bunches!

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

I am impressed. I use the ones in the bag from the grocery store. I truly prefer...the wop kind...Hungry Jack...flaky ones. I grew up in South Florida. I grew up on Bagels and schmear....and English Muffins. I never ate a biscuit until I moved to the south. I am glad someone is keeping the tradition alive. I love to cook. I hate to bake.

Doublegranny said...

I am so proud of you and Suz this will truly make your Grandmothers smile. I had Regina making them when she was 5 years old and she makes a pretty mean one still. Love you bunches

billypandnikkysmom said...

mmmmmm! I love biscuits & I just love your blog!

Tracychele said...

The little Dough Boy makes my biscuits! He does them way better than I do! I have tried and they crunch like potato chips! Really bad!!! I buy the bag of Pillsbury Biscuits and bake them! For all of you who can't do it, they are REALLY good!! Good luck with your contest! May the best "Howell" win!! Have a great day!!

Emma said...

Good job. I always want to do things like that but never dare, so good for you!! keep bakin!

REGINA said...

GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE GIVING IT ANOTHER TRY. LIKE THE OLD SAYING GOES "PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT". MINE WAS NOT THE BEST WHEN I WAS LEARNING. I JUST KNOW ALL THEM GRANDMOTHERS ARE SMILING DOWN ON YOU AND SUZ FOR GIVING IT YOUR BEST SHOT.GOOD LUCK BAKERS. I HOPE THEY HAVE BISCUITS IN HEAVEN.BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT I THINK HEAVEN WOULD BE LIKE. I LOVE THEM !! SINCE I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE THEM AT AN EARLY AGE I THINK THEY HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH ME IN MY MIDDLE AGE.WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT ? I'VE BEEN EATING BISCUITS SINCE I WAS ABLE TO EAT.OVER THE YEARS I THINK THAT DOUGH HAS STILL STUCK WITH ME ON MY BUTT AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT REMINDS ME OF MAWMAW HOWELL. I LOVED HERS COLD OR HOT. I DON'T MAKE THEM THAT MUCH AT HOME ANYMORE, BUT YESTERDAY AND TODAY AT WORK I DO HAVE TO SAY I MADE SOME ROLLS THAT WERE OFF THE CHAIN. THEY WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU SLAP SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY. THERE HAS BEEN TIMES THAT I WISHED I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO COOK. INSTEAD OF THE DOUGH BOY IT'S THE DOUGH FAMILY. BUT ALL AND ALL I'M THE ONLY BREAD LOVER AND I'M BLESSED THAT I DO KNOW HOW TO COOK. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Nana said...

Mmmmmm biscuits. That is one thing I have not skilled myself in. I think I should. Send me some of the hard ones you made so I can throw them at the IRS