Biscuits Baking Old vs .New

Biscuits, brown and buttery. who doesn't like a good one.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to try a late 1800-early 1900 biscuits recipe. I like to cook but,what I really like is to read about the histories of old recipes and try them if I have the ingredients. ( which I confess isn't often)

 Anyway, I set off and got the ingredients, made the dough like it said, called my mother-in0law for the oven temps, because this old recipe was for a wood stove, cut out these perfectly even circles with m y new wooden cutter and proceeded to bake. They rose a little, browned a little, smelled yummy, took them out and guess what they were very dry, not too bad tasting and defiantly not hard as rocks, but a good buttery biscuit, Alas No they were not. more like eating a really, really thick cracker.

Here is the recipe note the items in () are today's ingredient equivalents, other wise it is written like it was given to me.

Soda Bisquits circa 1890-1920
ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder , 1/4 tsp soda ( baking soda), 1/2 tsp salt ,
 lard (Crisco) , sour milk (buttermilk)

Sift all ingredients in a small bowl with spoon. Add a good rounded TBSP of lard (Crisco Shortening). Mix it with flour with a spoon. Add enough sour milk (buttermilk) to make dough stiff enough to m kae dough, pat out on floured board and cut out  into bisquit shape.

Now what isn't added is to cook today set oven to 400 bake until brown about 12-14 minutes.
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If you want a more modern take try this one out, though it was listed as and old fashion recipe, take not of the measurement of the ingredients used  a big difference in looks and especially in taste.
Flaky, Buttery Biscuits

ingredients: 3 cups flour, 4 1/2 tsp. Baking powder, 2 TBSP Sugar, 3/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1/2 tsp. Salt, 3/4 cup cold butter ( I used unsalted) , 1 whole egg slightly beaten,
1 cup whole milk ( I used 1/2 milk 1/2 buttermilk)

Heat oven 400-450

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter until pea sized.
Mix egg and milk(s) in small bowl then add to dry ingredients. Combine until mixture forms a soft ball, ( I mix with my hands as this is the easiest for me.) Turn out onto a floured surface and pat down until it is about 1/2 -3/4 inch thick, using cutter or open end of glass jar cut out your biscuits and place onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Enjoy!

I got this recipe from www.tastykitchen.com

This is an awesome recipe and I hope you enjoy both. I will try the first one again, just make some modern day swaps in it though. Have fun... until we talk again. - TNfrmgrl