2/10/15

grandma's biscuits // a recipe

when i was a little girl my father's side of the family all went to the same church ... and they still do ... well, except my brother and i. but for years, my grandpa, my grandma, my dad's brother and his wife and children, and my dad and mom and brothers ... all went to church together. every wednesday night and twice on sundays. it was just a part of life. 

every sunday after morning service we all met up at my grandpa and grandma's for supper. my grandpa was a farmer, so there was always so much for us kids to do. a barn to run around in, a big hill to roll down, a train track and pigs to chase. my grandpa would give us a quarter if we could grab one by the tail. it really was childhood at it's best. 

my grandma usually cooked a pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn and biscuits. not always this exact meal, but she made it often enough that it is the meal that stands out in my memory the most. since growing up and moving away, i have made these biscuits off and on ... they are familiar and comforting and just what i need to not feel alone. 

my grandpa and grandma are both still living, although my grandpa suffers from dementia and has fallen quite ill lately. i guess he has good days and bad. i've never actually lost anyone before. no one in my family has ever died. they have been on my mind so much lately. my heart feels heavy and afraid for them. my grandma has begun to go through their belongings and has been sending over boxes of old photos ... she gave my dad a letter she wrote to her grandpa and grandma on march 13, 1959 .. when my dad was only one week old. she was twenty four at the time ... it was the most beautiful letter i have ever read. she was the same. i could hear her young voice as she wrote out each word. something to keep and cherish. forever and ever. 

okay ... the recipe:

2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbl sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup shortening 
2/3 cup milk

whisk together dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately and then mix together. bake at 375 oven for 10 to 12 mins. 

super easy and delicious. i prefer them with strawberry jam or honey. 

here's to grandparents that make a difference. grandparents who love. grandparents who fill our head with the sweetest memories. 



5 comments:

  1. God, your words. I love them. And I love your memories.

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  2. Beautiful- and a bit wild how much we have in common. I grew up in Alaska, but we came to Missouri for a couple months every summer, and this was what those two months were like- it holds such beautiful memories for me and I think of those summer days with grandparents often. Anyway, now I'm reminiscing- it's a beautiful post and I must take up baking:)

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  3. You write beautifully and your images are wonderful. :)

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  4. I am no baker (like I literally have never baked biscuits before! Ha, worst housewife ever!) but yesterday my toddler woke the house at 3:45am and had meltdowns tantrums and multiple time outs when I decided I needed to try something new... For my own sanity. And so I made your recipe for biscuits and apple butter! Turned out amazing!! The toddler did the dry ingredient whisking �� Today is a new day (one that started at 6:10!!) and I'm enjoying those biscuits and tea! Thank you for sharing the recipe! I'm wondering if you have any other recipes you can share? Those lead/acorn cookies maybe??

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