Southern Style Biscuits and Gravy

Southern Style Biscuits and Gravy

Biscuits:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup of cold buttermilk

1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the shortening with a fork or use your hands until it looks like cornmeal. Add the milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly until well mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly two or three times. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch cutter.

Place the biscuits in a greased iron skillet. Gently press down top of biscuits. Brush the biscuits with half the melted butter. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the hot biscuits with the remaining butter. Split the biscuits in half and ladle milk gravy over the hot biscuits.

Gravy:

1/4 cup bacon drippings

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups milk, warm

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoons pepper (or more if you like)

2 tablespoons melted butter

Heat bacon drippings in a cast iron skillet. Add the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbly about 1 minute. Add the warm milk slowly and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and stir, until thickened, about 5 minutes, adding milk as necessary to control the thickness. Season the gravy with salt and pepper. Serve hot over biscuits.

NOTE: Add some crumbled fried sausage to the gravy for a real treat!

Photo courtesy of http://www.johnnyjs.com/

Recipe Source: Welcome Home