I can’t make’em either! This is where Paula asks one of us to be on the show to help us out!

True that the trick to biscuits seems to be NOT over handling the dough. (Got to keep the fat components in ‘chunks’ so that it melts away during baking giving the flaky texture…) Something I always have to be conscious of myself.
I plan on trying to make these one day very soon:

http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/sweet_potato_biscuits

(THEY LOOK SO GOOD!!)
I will have to post results when I do…

Have you ever made the whipping cream biscuits?  They are the most simple and yet delicious biscuits I’ve ever made!

I have made biscuits so many times I have lost count…numerous batches back to back. I’ve watched Paula’s shows on biscuits making and Alton Brown too. Trying to figure out what I am doing wrong…..I follow the technique to a “T”. I made two batches that were not hockey pucks. So I thought, I finally mastered the biscuit. But every batch since then…again hockey pucks. I go out of my way to NOT overwork the dough and still hockey pucks. Then I tried Paula’s recipe for Sour Cream Scones (Scottish/Irish Biscuit with the same technique) came out perfectly and they come out perfectly every time I make them. Had my confidence up so I tried biscuits again…...and still hockey pucks.

I can make scones perfectly and still can’t make a biscuit! I have come to the conclusion that I am just not meant to make biscuits! Thank goodenss Sam’c Club sells a big bag of frozen Dough Boy biscuits that I keep in the freezer at all time.

Hey Jenny try this.  Throw the recipe away.  Go by your gut.  Put self rising flour in a bowl.  Add your shortening and work it in with your hands till its about the size of peas, then work a little more till it looks like cornmeal.  Make a well in the flour mix and add your liquid.  Remember you can always add more.  Mix it with a fork until it is pulls away from the sides of the bowl.  Sprinkle flour where ever you are going to cut them out.  Sprinkle a little flour on top of batter.  I knead mine about 3 times then pat out with my hand.  Cut them out, place on baking sheet sides touching and bake pre-heated oven 375* for about 12 -15 min. or till brown.  Some days I don’t feel like cleaning the mess from cutting them out so I bake a pone of biscuit bread.  Just make your batter up and bake in a cast iron skillet just like corn bread.  Very tender but has a crunchy bottom.  Make sure you get your grease hot before adding the batter.  No kneading.  If you try it let me know how you like it.

Thanks and I will try to follow my gut with the biscuits. I laughed when I read that because with cooking, I do follow my gut but NEVER with baking. I’ve made enough scones that I should just be able to follow my gut with the biscuits & relax. And tell myself over and over “I’m making scones”.

When I first made Grandmother Paul’s carrot cake (never made a carrot cake before) I couldn’t believe 3 C of grated carrots wouldn’t ruin the cake batter. It was A LOT! But when it was mixed up BEFORE I added the carrots, I was thinking…“Oh I messed up, this is wrong” because the cake batter had a thicker consistency than brownies….I just went with the flow and when I added the grated carrots, the batter turned into “Normal” cake batter. I was like “Oh okay, there it is…wow carrots have a lot of moisture!” 

I’m so glad I saw this thread with all the comments!  Tonight, I’m making biscuits!!!  Thanks you all in advance because I know they will turn out great.

Hey really do let us know how they turn out.  I have been away for a while staying with my mom.  She passed away 3 weeks ago.  I am trying to get back into the swing of things, but am so far behind with house its been tough.  I would like to see a lot more of the old gang come back here.  I don’t use the new site very much at all.  I have a hard time finding things over there.  This forum is really easy.

Good morning, quiltinglady.  I’m sorry about your mother but I’m glad to see you here.  I hope there will be lots more here soon!

I did make biscuits yesterday (see the other thread on biscuits where I posted!) and they were pretty good.  I was quite proud and made some more this morning.  These were better!  I do believe the handling of the dough (or not handling it too much) is the key.

Have to have another buttered biscuit!  See ya’!

To tnquiltinglady: I am so sorry for your loss How are you doing?

Yeah, I don’t go much to the other sight either. This one has the email Notification feature so it’s really easy cuz I pretty much just have time to check my email. It’s so much easier to just click on the link…then browse. The other one you have to search etc… I miss everyone being here a lot. It’s more like family here. I know lots of people are at the other one too but this feels more like home.
Haven’t done much baking or nothing. Things have been real floopy what with my hubby’s grand-niece’s coming over every other weekend to spend the night. It’s weird being the Cool Aunt and having kids WANT to come over all the time. Before our 4 year old son was born, I WAS THE BABY of the family (and I am 42) so being around kids has been quite a new but nice experience for me.

tnquiltinglady - 20 October 2009 11:26 PM

Hey really do let us know how they turn out.  I have been away for a while staying with my mom.  She passed away 3 weeks ago.  I am trying to get back into the swing of things, but am so far behind with house its been tough.  I would like to see a lot more of the old gang come back here.  I don’t use the new site very much at all.  I have a hard time finding things over there.  This forum is really easy.

Glad to see you back…......I know you’ve been through a really rough time.  You’ll be in my thoughts.

I feel the same as you about the new forum.  I do check it but haven’t posted but a handful of times.  Like you, I wish a lot of the “old” forum members would come back.

Jenny - congrats on being the “cool Aunt”!!  You sound like a really fun person.  When you have kids to take care of, there isn’t much time left for baking.

Patsy - I haven’t tried “real” biscuits in a long time.  My husband bought a quart of molasses yesterday so I need to make him a batch.  You’re inspiring me!  No time to do it this week tho’ as I’m baking a lot of desserts for our annual church barbecue.

I know that feeling of the cool aunt stuff.  My niece had homecoming week.  We were up all night recentely making tee shirts for pep week or what ever they call it.  She thinks I’m cool since I have all the materials to make cool shirts.  I am with you on the less handling of the dough.  I don’t know if you read the post about biscuit bread, but you should try it some time.  It is really tender.  No mess of flour on the counter from cutting out the dough.  I am glad to see some one posting.  Keep up the good work.