Every southern lady needs to know how to whip up a feathery batch of homemade biscuits, Heaven in your Hand, as Melissa Ringstaff, originator of this recipe likes to call them.
Step #1:
In a large bowl, measure out 3 cups of self rising flour. I prefer White Lily. You want your flour to be fluffy,so be sure to sift it, or fluff it real well with a spoon and then carefully spoon the flour into your measuring cup. There is no need to scrape the top off with a knife. You do not want too much flour, else you will have heavy biscuits!
Step #2:
Cut in 1/2 cup of real butter with a pastry cutter, or you can use a fork, or even your fingers. You want the butter to turn into pea size bits.
Step #3:
Now, add 1 cup of milk or butter milk. Stir with a fork just until combined - don’t over do it. Overworking the dough breaks down the glutens in the flour and makes for TOUGH BISCUITS.
Step #4:
Lay out your Tea Towel and sprinkle lightly with flour in the center - as you would the counter. Place your ball of dough in the center of the towel.
Step #5:
Now simply fold the towel over the dough and knead once. Do this in each direction, three or four times. If the dough is a little wet, you can sprinkle a bit of flour over the top to prevent sticking. Let me reinterate...Too much kneading will make your biscuits heavy and tough. You just want to bring the dough together.
Step #6:
Pat your dough out into a circle about 1/2 inch thick.
Step #7:
Use your biscuit cutter or a glass to cut out your biscuits.
Step #8:
Place each biscuit on your baking sheet about an inch apart. This recipe make about 12 biscuits.
Step #9:
Bake at 450° for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown. You can brush the tops of each biscuit before baking with milk or beaten egg wash or melted butter for a glossy golden finish.
Step #10:
Clean up is a snap, simply shake excess bits and flour into trash bin and toss the towel in the wash. The whole process, from start to pulling the biscuits out of the oven only takes 15 minutes!
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