Some Southern Comfort

Biscuits with Honey and Petit Jean Bacon
It’s been said that I can make a mean biscuit…
Making biscuits is one of those things that isn’t hard,
but that people tend to overthink and overwork.
Some secrets?
REAL SALTED BUTTER
CAST IRON SKILLET
*This recipe is easily made Gluten Free by using an all-in-one gluten free flour mix like Cup 4 Cup or Bob’s Red Mill 1:1.
When I make it gluten free I add a bit more milk because the gluten free flour seems drier.

Best Southern Biscuits

It's been said that I can make a mean biscuit…Making biscuits is one of those things that isn't hard, but that people tend to overthink and overwork. Some secrets? Use real salted butter, a hot cast iron pan, and a hot oven.

  • 4 cups Organic unbleached flour
  • 2 tablespoon Baking powder
  • 4 tablespoon Sugar (unbleached granulated)
  • 1 teaspoon Cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Butter (<em>you can also substitute butter with coconut oil to equal 1 cup.</em>)
  • 1 1/3 cup Milk (<em>possibly more depending on humidity.</em>)
  1. Preheat oven to 450.

  2. Put about a tablespoon or two of oil in skillet and place in oven. 

  3. In bowl stir together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter or hands until it resembles coarse crumbs or peas. Add milk and stir until dough just clings together.  You may have to add more if dough is too dry.  You want it to be moist but not mushy.

  4. On floured surface, knead dough GENTLY for 10 strokes. Pat into a rectangle shape gently and then roll to about 1/2 inch thickness. Fold in half and repeat twice. 

  5. Dip a glass in flour and cut into biscuits.

  6. Transfer to hot skillet and bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

On Simplicity?

Last month a fun group of ladies started a challenge based on the book  

It’s a super concept where you take 7 months, 
identify 7 areas of excess in your life,  
and make 7 choices each month in ways to cut back. 
Our first month was FOOD.  (You can insert a scream here.)
I really didn’t participate last month except to try and NOT eat out.
We are always on the go with kids activities and if I don’t plan ahead every day we end up grabbing something for the kids or getting a chicken or other quick fixes from the grocery store.  
I’ll have to say I did really good- 
and then made up for it this month by already eating out WAY too much.  
It’s made me aware of how much money is wasted when a family of five gets anything out (even snacks or drinks.) 
 
This month? 
CLOTHING
This I have in the bag.  
I AM a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal.
 My choices of clothing for the month:
  1. Pure Charity T-Shirt (Thanks, *Pure Charity!)
  2. Jeans 
  3. Park Hill T-shirt
  4. Black Yoga Pants
  5. Bird Shirt by Erin
  6. Heifer Project shirt
  7. Purple tie-dyed shirt 
I’m not counting some things like shoes, pjs, or undies- 
and not counting jackets because AR weather is crazy and some days I might need one and others not.
The funny thing? 
I was apologizing to my daughter for picking her up from dance looking like a bum with paint all over my clothes and she said “OH!  I didn’t even know you were doing the challenge, you dress in 7 things anyway I think!”  Maybe after this is over I can get a makeover…

What I’m realizing is that even though I try to live 
SIMPLY
the fact is that I am accustomed to excess. 
We are moving and as I go through the piles of “stuff” that I will never 
use I realize that it’s crazy how much we can accumulate over time. 
Even giving away an average of 2 bags a month I have a houseful of things I really don’t need.
We got broken into last week and I was almost grateful.
Crazy, I know
but I was thinking
Maybe he will take it all away so I don’t have to deal with it. 
Not the right attitude. 
So…
I’m baring and paring
Stay tuned…
*On Pure Charity


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