A Biscuit, A Basket

You know, I knew it was coming. We all did - but it actually hit me tonight (at 10PM no less) that I wouldn't be going back to the Boys and Girls Club for work next week. And unless some powerful, rich overlord decides to shove a whole whack of new funding into the association (and really, any donations to them, money or otherwise, make a huge difference!) I'm not likely to be able to work there again. I still can't believe that out of hundreds of students and several years of begging and pleading, Marlene picked me as her first co-op student ever!

I can't thank the whole community group enough for letting me bake and cook up enough things to provide blogging material for the next year or so - as long as I can remember the stories to go along with the recipes! I've already been told they miss me - and I hadn't even left the site yet! All I can say is that hopefully a small part of what I drilled into the kids got lodged in their brains, even if they don't realize it.

These were the last goodies I got to make the kids and staff before I left - dead simple, mix-pat-and-cut biscuits that I jazzed up with coconut and allspice. I liked that they didn't involve cutting in any butter or shortening (not only better for you health wise, but less clean up!) and as a bonus it allowed me to roadmap a future cooking program activity for my boss. With a side of either honey butter or guava jam (yay for the random pantry staples!) they fit perfectly with the afternoon coffee breaks of the assorted staff members.

Easy Tender Biscuits
Makes 8
1 cup flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup whole wheat flour
½ tsp salt
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar (if you want sweet biscuits for breakfast, add 3 tablespoons)
1 ½ cups whole milk (or half-and-half cream)

Optional add-ins (not included in NI):
2 teaspoons of any spice (cinnamon or garlic powder, herbs, black pepper, etc.)
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese or coconut

1. Preheat oven to 500 F and coat a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
2. In a bowl, stir together the flours, salt, baking powder, sugar, and milk (plus any mix-ins if using) until the dough forms a ball.
3. Turn the dough out onto a surface lightly dusted with flour.
4. Fold the dough in half, and knead 5 to 7 times. Add only enough flour to keep dough from sticking to your hands.
5. Gently pat the dough out into a ½” thickness.
6. Cut dough into 8 biscuits with a round cookie cutter or a glass.
7. Place on baking sheet, leaving at least 1” between each biscuit.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Serve warm!

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 95.4
Total Fat: 1.8 g
Cholesterol: 4.6 mg
Sodium: 18.6 mg
Total Carbs: 16.1 g 
Dietary Fiber: 0.4 g
Protein: 3.5 g