Sunday, May 11, 2014

Cheese Biscuits


About 10 years ago my husband and I traveled to South Carolina and Georgia for a vacation. This was my first time ever to the South. The first week we stayed on Kiawah Island, then we headed to Savannah Georgia before flying home. It was late November, Thanksgiving had just passed and the weather was perfect. Everywhere people would talk about a restaurant called "Elizabeth on 37th" . We were told the food was simple and elegant; a true Southern gem. Unbeknownst to me my husband had made a reservation and on the last night we ate there. I can still remember this night as one of the bests. The food was amazing, right down to the biscuits. Shortly after we were seated, Christmas Carolers that looked like they walked right out of a storybook, came in to sing. It was magical!

The recipe today has been adapted from the cookbook, "Savannah Seasons", Food and Stories from Elizabeth on 37th by Elizabeth Terry with Alexis Terry.


I prepared these biscuits this morning for breakfast and they were enjoyed by all.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
4 level teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cubed cold butter (cut in tablespoons and then half again)
1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk

To prepare:

Place oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat oven to 425F. Generously butter a baking sheet.

In a standing mixer combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder and salt and pulse a few quick times to combine. Add butter and cheese and pulse until mixture resembles coarse peas and flakes. Pour in buttermilk, then process until dough comes together, about 15 seconds. (this will come together quick).

Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Knead 3 times only, then pat into a round ball and flatten to a disk. Use rolling pin quickly roll out till about 3/4 thick. Cut out 12 circles with biscuit cutter.


Place on prepared baking sheet and bake about 10 minutes until puffed and golden. Slather with butter and jam or great as a breakfast sandwich.






Cheri Savory Spoon
Cheri Savory Spoon

Mysavoryspoon was first started in 2010 as a way to journal recipes that I had collected from cookbooks, magazines, family and friends. Most everything was savory, using legumes and whole grains. Along the way I discovered a love for baking. Now a couple times a month you might see some type of sweet pie or treat.

43 comments:

  1. I think I remember my brother talking about Elizabeth's - from when they had a home near there. The biscuits sound amazing - I can think of all sorts of ways to use them! ~ David

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    1. Hi David, I should also add they were easy to prepare. Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. I like the South...oh..Savannah is one of its jewels. Great biscuits, Cheri. I should give them a try too...thanks!!!
    :) ela@GrayApron

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  3. I haven't made any biscuit in a really long time. These look so delicious and melt-in-mouth!

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    1. Hi Angie, this was my first time and it was pretty easy. Thanks!

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  4. They look wonderful and extremely tempting! Simply perfect.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. I am making gravy as we speak!

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  6. Who doesn't love a good cheese biscuit. I remember devouring the mini ones at Red Lobster years ago. : ) I bet yours are way better (and those were good)!

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    1. These were pretty good, the wheat germ added a little substance to them. Thanks Monica!

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  7. These look so good Cheri! I lived in North Carolina for 4 years and fell in love with southern food, so this post takes me back there :) I'll definitely have to try these :)

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    1. Hi Phi, we did not realize how good the food was in the South until that year, delicious!

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  8. Nothing like a warm cheese biscuit with your meal! How sweet of your husband to surprise you, Cheri. I like that they're easy, that's always appealing, lol. These look great. Have a wonderful day.

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    1. Hi Robyn, yes he can be pretty sweet sometimes. Lol! no really he is. These were so easy for the first time. Happy Monday to you.

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  9. We call these cheese scones in the UK, Cheri ... and I love them! You've reminded me to have a go at them myself some time. :-)

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    1. Hi Helen, how interesting the UK sounds. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. I really love a good biscuit, especially one that contains cheese!

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    1. Hi Amy, cheese does make everything better doesn't it!

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  11. These biscuits look amazing. And I love hearing the story of your and your husband's travels. Lovely to be surprised in such a romantic way!

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    1. Hi Dena, it really was very nice of him. Love the South, it is so different from where we live.

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  12. I love biscuits, and this recipe looks so classic! I love nothing more than a great biscuit when we eat soup or stew, this is going on my to do list!

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    1. Thanks Sue, this was a pretty simple recipe did not know they were so easy to make.

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  13. Cheri: What a great story and I bet it was magical. the biscuits sound amazing and I like the addition of the wheat germ.

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    1. Hi Marlene, the wheat germ was wonderful in these and yes the place was magical. Thanks!

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  14. Savannah is definitely on my bucket list! I've been to Charleston but not Savannah. Your biscuits look fabulous!

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    1. Thanks Karen! Savannah is so charming, we loved the South.

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  15. Cheri, your Biscuits sound so wonderful - it is always a great idea to have a really good Biscuit recipe on hand!

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    1. Thanks Andrea! had a great time making these, they were easy to prepare and they tasted great.

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  16. Lovely post and what great looking biscuits, in Australia we call these scones and they are a particular favourite in our house.

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    1. Helen@scrummylane said the same thing about England, I never knew, so interesting! Thanks for stopping by.

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  17. Cheese biscuits are my weakness... these look great!!

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  18. Those awesome biscuits remind me of those my mum makes...sooo good!

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  19. I lived in Atlanta for several years and at one time my parents lived about an hour outside Charleston SC. But somehow I never made it to Kiawah Island, but it was on my list. Now I know where to eat there, so I've got to go :-) Love, love, love biscuits!

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    1. Hi Susan, we loved Kiawah Island, the beaches were wonderful and I absolutely loved watching the Piping Plovers (shore birds).

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  20. How nice that you can bring back those memories through the cookbook! The biscuits look and sound delicious Cheri!

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    1. Thanks Reeni, I collect cookbooks, for now anyway!

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  21. I've been wanting a recipe for these Southern biscuits for ages now. This I'm bookmarking as I have a bag of wheat germ in my baking drawer that I never use! This will be the perfect vehicle.

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    1. Thanks Johnny, they were pretty good, the wheat germ was a great addition.

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  22. Hi Cheri. Oh how fun to have the book from a restaurant you loved! I love to do that too. I'd love to see Savannah some day.

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