The Best Cheddar Biscuits

Biscuits are easy to make, but don't mess with it too much. The secret to flaky and tender biscuits is all in how the butter is distributed throughout the dough. If done correctly, it'll melt and puff up the biscuits when they bake at a high temperature. This is an adaptation from America's Test Kitchen, so you know it's perfect. Enjoy!

If you don't have buttermilk, just use milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup. Fill to 1 cup with milk. Let sit 5 minutes before using.

The Best Cheddar Biscuits

Yield: 20-24 biscuits
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute)
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted, for brushing biscuits
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt 1 stick of butter first and set aside to cool.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until evenly mixed.
4. Add the grated cheese and mix it into the dry ingredients.
5. Pour the cold buttermilk (or substitute) into a medium bowl. Pour in the cooled, melted butter and mix it together with a whisk or a fork.
6. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix the batter quickly and gently, just until the batter is moistened and comes together. Do not over-mix the batter.
7. Use a large spoon to scoop up and portion out the batter onto the baking sheet for 20-24 biscuits.
8. Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown.
9. While the biscuits are baking, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and the minced parsley to the butter.
10. When the biscuits are baked, brush the biscuits with the melted garlic-parsley butter.

Blueberry Muffins

A couple years back, we spent a wonderful weekend at a B&B in New Hampshire. It was amazing, and one of the best B&Bs we've ever been to. One of the huge pluses was the breakfast, which was made completely from scratch every morning for us and that was different every day. Apparently, over the years others like us have requested the recipes because they were so good!

These blueberry muffins are bursting with flavor and were one of the many highlights of the trip. And when they're warm and fresh out of the oven, oh man, there's almost nothing better. Enjoy!

Blueberry Muffins

Yield: 16 muffins
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat 400F.
2. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Add the blueberries and toss.
3. In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients.
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix quickly with a fork, until flour disappears. Do not overmix. Batter should be lumpy.
5. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins about 3/4 full.
6. Sprinkle each muffin with a little sugar, up to 1/2 teaspoon.
7. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Serve warm.

Homemade Cheddar Cheese

OK, I can't wait any longer. I just have to share this. After two months of aging, I had to try this cheddar. The result was a delicious mild cheddar that I know is only going to improve with age. It went really well with some ham and popovers. Yum!

This cheddar recipe is no more difficult than the gouda recipe. There is only a little more time involved, and the aging is typically longer. However, fresh cheese is awesome, and there will likely be enough for you to age it as long as you like.

Have fun, and let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

Homemade Cheddar Cheese

Yield: 1 pound of cheddar
Ingredients

• 1 gallon whole milk
• 2 ice cubes buttermilk
• 1/2 tablet rennet
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium chloride
• 1 tablespoon non-iodized salt

Cooking Directions

1. Mix the rennet in 1/4 cup / 50 ml of water. Mix the calcium chloride in 1/4 cup / 50 ml of water.
2. Using a double boiler or in a pot, warm the milk and liquid calcium chloride to 90F / 32C.
3. Add mesophilic starter culture and mix thoroughly with a whisk, the culture must be uniform throughout the milk.
4. Allow the milk to ripen for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Slowly pour the diluted rennet into the milk, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir for 1 minute.
6. Allow the milk to set for 30 minutes to 1 hour until a firm curd is set and a clean break can be obtained when the curd is cut.
7. With a long knife or whisk, cut the curds into 1/4 inch cubes.
8. Allow the curds to sit for 5-15 minutes to firm up.
9. Slowly raise the temperature of the milk to 100-102F / 39C. It should take as long as 45 minutes to reach this temperature. During this time, gently stir the curds every few minutes so they don't mat together.
10. Keep the curds at 100-102F / 39C for another 45 minutes. During this time, gently stir the curds every few minutes so they don't mat together. They are done when it holds together in your hand if squeezed.
11. Drain the whey by pouring through a colander. Do this quickly and do not allow the curds to mat, turning with your hands to allow drainage. Save 1/3 of the whey in the pot.
12. Suspend the colander with the curds over the double boiler or pot. Stir the curds to separate any particles that have matted.
13. Heat the curds at 100-102F / 39C for 45 minutes to 1 hour, flipping every 10-15 minutes.
14. Cut the slab into chunks and into strips. Add the tablespoon of salt and mix thoroughly with hands in 3 stages, waiting 1 minute between each.
15. Carefully place the curds into your cheesecloth lined mold. Cover with cheesecloth.
16. Press the cheese at about 20 lbs / 9 kg for 45 minutes.
17. Remove the cheese from the press and flip it.
18. Press the cheese at about 40 lbs /18 kg for 3 hours.
19. Remove the cheese from the press and flip it.
20. Press the cheese at about 50 lbs / 23 kg for 24 hours.
21. Remove the cheese from the press. Place the cheese on a cheese board or bamboo mat and dry at room temperature for 1-5 days, until the cheese is dry to the touch.
22. Wax the cheese and age it in your refrigerator for 3-24 months. The longer the cheese is aged the sharper the flavor it will develop. Be sure to flip the cheese every few days.

Homemade Gouda Cheese

Homemade cheese is simple and fairly easy. With the right equipment (which can be bought on the cheap or made at home) and the right ingredients (which can be found online or at various home brew or similar stores), you'll have some delicious cheese in no time.

The types of cheese there are in the world run the gamut. There really is no end to the kind you can make. You might only be limited by your ability to get specific cultures to flavor your cheese. However, this Gouda cheese requires nothing more than regular cultured buttermilk.

The directions are long, but they are detailed. Please do not hesitate to ask me anything. Oh, and it is delicious raw and aged! Enjoy!

Homemade Gouda Cheese

Yield: 1 pound of gouda
Ingredients

• 1 gallon whole milk
• 2 ice cubes buttermilk
• 1/2 tablet rennet
• 1/4 teaspoon calcium chloride
• saturated brine

Cooking Directions

1. Mix the rennet in 1/4 cup of water. Mix the calcium chloride in 1/4 cup of water.
2. Warm the milk to 85-90F/29-32C in vat of your choice, i.e. double boiler or pot.
3. Add Starter Culture and Calcium Chloride and mix thoroughly with a whisk to make uniform throughout the milk.
4. Cover and let the culture ripen at same temperature for 15-45 minutes.
5. Trickle in diluted rennet stirring constantly for 1 minute to evenly distribute, then stop swirl with ladle to enable better curd set.
6. Cover and let the milk stand at your target temperature for 45+ minutes until a clean break is achieved.
7. Cut the curds into 0.2-0.5 inch cubes.
8. Allow the curds to sit and heal undisturbed for 5-10 minutes.
9. Stir gently, intermittently for 15-25 minutes to ensure the curds don't mat together.
10. Let the curds rest for 5 minutes to settle to bottom.
11. Remove and discard 1/3 volume of whey from top of vat. Add same volume of hot water to reach target 95-102°F / 37-39°C. Normally, 130°F / 55°C water will work.
12. Stir gently intermittently for 15-30 minutes, breaking any large lumps of curd.
13. Let the curds rest for 5 minutes to settle to bottom.
14. Pour the curds into a large strainer or colander and let drain for 5 minutes. If possible, place the strainer inside another pot or cover the curds in order to maintain the curd's temperature. The curds will press better if slightly warm.
15. Place the curds into cheesecloth lined mold, pack curds down into mold by hand (try to minimize breakage of the curd pack). Place a thin 1 lb. weight on top of the follower and press for 15 minutes.
16. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~2 pounds per US gallon or 0.5 kg per liter of milk used for 15 minutes.
17. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~5 pounds per 1 US gallon / 1 kg per 1 liter of milk for about 1 hour.
18. Remove the cheese from the mold and cheesecloth, flip, replace in cheesecloth and mold and press again at ~12 pounds per 1 US gallon / 1.5 kg per 1 liter of milk for final ~8-16 hours (i.e. overnight).
19. Remove the cheese from the press and cheesecloth.
20. Prepare a saturated brine for the cheese by combining ½ gallon water with 1 lb. cheese salt and bringing to a boil. Stir until salt is dissolved and remove from heat. Add 1 cup whey.
21. Stir in ½ teaspoon of calcium chloride solution and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. This will keep the rind from becoming gummy and bring the pH of the brine close to the pH of the cheese. Let the brine cool to room temperature before using. The temperature of the brine should be the same as the cheese.
22. Place in saturated brine solution for 3-4 hours per pound or 0.5 kg of pressed curds. Sprinkle some salt on top, and be certain to turn the cheese a few times to ensure even rind development.
23. Note, after brining the cheese will have lost ~5% weight and the outer surface will have become firmer and almost tough.
24. Place the cheese on a drying mat. After 1-5 days the cheese should be dry to touch and then it can be waxed. Or it can continue to be aged with a natural rind.
25. If natural rind, if unwanted molds appear on rind, clean with a low 2-3% brine and cloth or disposable paper towel. After cheese hardens, a brush can be used with brine.
26. Turn cheese and replace mat if moist initially every 2 days then every week and eventually every month if age that long.
27. Consume after 2 weeks to several years. Flavor changes with age.

(B)Elated Irish Soda Bread (3 Variations)

Belated Elated Irish Soda Bread. Long overdue but finally making its way to your very eyes is the much-anticipated, often-imitated-but-never-duplicated Irish soda bread.

There are three variations we have here:
- The first is Irish-Irish soda bread - like they invented in Ireland.
- The second is American-Irish soda bread - like the kind found in America with the raisins.
- The third is a mix between the two - no raisins but with a bit of egg enough to change the flavor.

Maybe (at this late juncture) you're craving a wee bit o' Irish, going through the withdrawls of St. Patty's Day. If you're like me, you most certainly are (except this feeling lasts all year), and hopefully, these wee treats will brighten your day. Enjoy!

Disneyland's German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake

Plaza Inn

Ingredients

1 ¼ c. sugar
½ c. shortening
2 eggs
¼ t. salt
1 ¾ c. cake flour
2 T. unsweetened cocoa
½ t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 c. buttermilk
4 egg whites
¼ c. sugar

Directions

Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, shortening, eggs, and salt and blend until light and fluffy. Sift together cake flour, cocoa, soda, and baking powder. Add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk until thoroughly blended.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat egg whites separately with ¼ c. sugar until very stiff peaks form. Then gently fold egg whites into chocolate cake mixture. Divide batter evenly among the three cake pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops of cakes spring back when pressed lightly with a finger.
Cool layers on wire racks for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely.

Frosting

Ingredients

1 c. evaporated milk
1 ½ c. sugar
1 c. butter, softened
3 egg yolks
¼ t. vanilla
1 ½ c. chopped pecans
1 ½ c. flaked coconut

Directions

Combine milk, sugar, butter, and egg yolks in a saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and is thickened (about 10 minutes). Add vanilla, pecans, and coconut. Stir until cool and of smooth spreading consistency. Frost the top of each cake layer generously with topping. Stack layers evenly and frost sides.

Cajun Chicken Drumsticks and Biscuits

Is there anything more comforting than some good ole down home chicken and biscuits? Mmm cajun chicken drumsticks!

The biscuits are same ones as the Savory Buttermilk Thyme Drop Biscuits. Delicious. You MUST try these biscuits. I could rant and rave all day about them - honestly.

As you can see, everything was paired with some scrumptious veggies. There was baked mushrooms and baked tomato alongside a helping of homemade coleslaw and steamed yellow squash. It all was the perfect accompaniment to help lighten up the chicken and biscuits - I will definitely be making this again. Enjoy!

Savory Buttermilk Thyme Drop Biscuits

More buttermilk recipes! Just what everyone wanted, I know. Though I suppose these biscuits could be made with regular milk as well. Ask Martha Stewart - that's where I got them.

No, my biscuits do not look as pretty as hers, but damned if they don't taste completely awesome!

I really cannot stress enough how much I loved these. I think we combined them with chicken or something delicious, and I ate one a day until they disappeared. Hmm, I think I'll go make some more right now...Enjoy!

Banana Buttermilk Bread (Act III)

Our third Banana Buttermilk Bread in as many weeks! We're extremely addicted to the stuff, I must say. The other two recipes - Banana Buttermilk Bread and Banana Buttermilk Bread (Act II) - turned out so well I just had to make another delicious loaf.

There is a slight variation to this loaf as well. I love experimenting in the kitchen (and maybe next time I'll try adding oats and honey to it and see what happens. Who knows!) It's more akin to the first loaf instead of the second. In this one brown sugar is used instead of white sugar. I was curious how the molasses in the brown sugar would add to the moisture and complexity of flavor of this quick bread.

And how did it fare? Fantastic! Spectacular!

It's slightly moister than the original and not as dense as the second, and I think you'll find the molasses adds that wonderful little hint of something-something you've been looking for all your life.

So run to your kitchen, turn on the oven, and start savoring this bread, as I do, for breakfast, dessert, and as a snack. Enjoy!

Banana Buttermilk Bread (Act II)

ActII, Scene I: Our hero, Grubby (the little green lad up top), loves baking, and desires nothing more than to be healthy as well. Sometimes these forces oppose each other, and sometimes they are harmonious, and then there are the times when the desire to be healthier overcomes his sense of baking fundamentals (like we have here today). He slaves away over the mixing bowl, and pours the batter into the pan, thrusting it into the oven.

A few edits, revisions, touchups, substitutions, experimentations, and otherwise slight changes to the original Banana Buttermilk Bread.

Extra points for those who spot them. Points being my subscription to your blog and possible recipe highlight in a future post. Enjoy!

Banana Buttermilk Bread

Banana Bread!

The story behind this is that I had a set of ingredients I wanted to use to make banana bread, and I wasn't about to let a little thing like "I hadn't heard of it made like that before" stop me. I never do (sometimes to my detriment). [example: I have some cottage cheese - I wonder if I can make my next batch of banana bread with that instead of butter? Hmm...]

This list included both buttermilk (that I had leftover from the Irish Soda Bread) and lemon juice but excluded brown sugar because I just didn't have any on hand. Who knew there were so many banana bread recipes out there that call for brown sugar in banana bread?

So I searched high and low and finally came upon a solid recipe that had everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. Perfecto!

What aroma, what splendid flavor wafted through the air, kissing our tongues, toying with us for the hour it cooked in the oven. And then the moment arrived. At long last...and oh! What sweet seduction, what joy, rapture, what fluffy texture. The end result was everything I craved and more.

If you have some extra ripe bananas, I dare you to give this recipe a shot - double dog dare you even. Enjoy!

Buttermilk Pie

Southern Buttermilk Pie, I do declare. A more surprisingly delicious pie you will not have. Soft, moist, reminds-you-of-custard/creme brulee-and-a-little-bit-of-home-even-though-you've-never-had-it-before goodness, all while instilling a sense of zomg deep within your mortal soul.

Now you're probably thinking "Buttermilk? Aint that the bitterest kind of milk there is? How's that gonna get good? Or even pie good? You tell me that!" Fine. I'll tell you. The secret is...