Buttermilk Biscuits & White Gravy

You can't go wrong when you start (or end) your day with a soft, buttery biscuit smothered in white gravy. Serve them for breakfast or as an addition to any meal.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening (You can always substitute more butter if you don't have it on hand)
1 cup buttermilk

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.
• Using your fingertips, rub butter and shortening into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs.
• Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. 
• Stir just until the dough comes together. (You want a very sticky dough)
• Turn dough onto floured surface, dust top with flour and gently fold dough over on itself 5 or 6 times. (It does help to put some flour on your hands or you will have dough sticking everywhere) 
• Once your dough is folded, press into a 1-inch thick round. Cut out biscuits with a 2-inch cutter, or you can even use a drinking glass, being sure to push straight down through the dough. (Don't twist it or you won't have nice flaky layers)

• Place biscuits on baking sheet so that they just touch. Reform scrap dough, working it as little as possible & continue cutting. (It never hurts to brush melted butter on the top of the biscuits as well)

• Bake until biscuits are tall and start to brown on top, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  
  
  White Gravy 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This is my quick version, it can easily be made in 5 mins while your biscuits are baking. 
  

Ingredients:
 
4 tbsp. butter 
4 tbsp. flour 
Salt & Pepper 
2 1/2 c. milk


Directions:

• Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. 

• Blend in flour; cook until smooth and bubbly. 

• Whisk in milk; add salt & pepper to taste. 

• Heat to boiling on medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir & boil 1 minute.

I will post my more time consuming & equally delicious recipe, for those of you who prefer sausage gravy, at a later date.