Foodie Friday

Back when I was working full time, Big M and I used to try new recipes on Friday nights. After spending a work week mostly away from my family, I didn't feel like going out. It was also fun to try new things together. Lots of times, we'd wait until the kids went to bed and then cook something together. We haven't done that much sense Maggie was born, but today I was feeling adventurous. Soooo, I decided to make Red Lobster Cheese biscuits to eat with our Chili.

From what I could gather the secrete is that on its own, room temperature shortening does a poor job creating the light, airy texture you want from good biscuits, and it contributes little in the way of flavor. So, you have to add cold butter along on the trip-with grated cheddar cheese and a little garlic powder.

If you'd like to give it a try (even my 7 and 10 year old loved them)...
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups Bisquick baking mix
¾ cup cold buttermilk
4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 heaping cup grated cheddar cheese

Bush on Top:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
½ teaspoon garlic powder
pinch salt

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a pastry cutter or a large fork. You don't want to mix too thoroughly. There should be small chunks of butter in there that are about the size of peas. Add cheddar cheese, milk, and ¼ teaspoon garlic. Mix by hand (you know, with your actual hands) until combined, but don't over mix.
3. Drop approximately ¼-cup portions of the dough onto an un-greased cookie sheet using an ice cream scoop.
4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.
5. When you take the biscuits out of the oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter is a small bowl in your microwave. Stir in ½ teaspoon garlic powder and the dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread this garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Make sure you use up all of the butter.

It will make about one dozen biscuits.