on Aug 29th, 2008Summer’s last shortcakes
I always hate to see summer end, especially when it’s as fleeting as this year’s has been. Winter dragged on well into spring and after a few hot days in early June, summer has been mostly cool and rainy, sort of like Seattle without a Starbucks on every corner. Perhaps that’s why I was able to find local strawberries this late in the year.
Strawberry shortcake was a treat when I was a girl. It still is. My mother used to make two kinds, simple drop biscuits for the family, using the tried and true recipe that might still be on every box of Bisquick. For guests, however, she made these tender cream biscuits — just five ingredients — taking the extra few minutes to cut them into rounds.
I only make these. For years, I had no biscuit cutters and improvised by simply rolling (or patting) the dough and cutting it into squares. An advantage of doing that is there is no waste; this dough can be re-rolled, but only once. After that, it toughens up, leaving a little to be thrown away or baked off in a lump as the cook’s sample.
I’ll be using the rest of the shortcakes with peaches while they’re still available from East Coast growers and when they’re gone, that will be it for another year. Even if you’re not serving guests this Labor Day weekend, summer’s unofficial end, if the shortcake urge hits please try these. They’re too good to save just for company. Even if Mom did, bless her soul.
Mom’s Company’s Coming Shortcakes
Adapted from ella’s mom
1 cup/124g all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 TB sugar
1/2 cup/ 118 mL heavy cream, plus 1 -2 TB more
Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees/220C/Gas 7. Line a baking sheet with parchment or use an ungreased sheet.
In a medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. Add the 1/2 cup of heavy cream and mix until a dough forms. If too dry and a large amount of flour remains unmixed, add cream 1 tablespoon at a time. [If you dip and scoop flour into a measuring cup instead of lightly spooning it into the cup, you will certainly need the extra cream ~ ella]
Turn out onto a lightly-floured surface and knead gently but quickly, about 6 turns, until cohesive and smooth.
Roll or pat to a thickness of 1/2″ and cut with a 2-1/2″ or 2 5/8″ cutter. Re-roll scraps and cut the remaining dough. Alternatively, simply cut the dough into squares.
Transfer to baking sheet and lightly brush the tops with a bit more cream. Bake for 13 - 17 minutes, until golden on top.
Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature with sweetened fruit and whipped cream.
Yield: 6 shortcakes
Related post: The Last Egg Cream
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Ohhhhh, ella, thanks for the memories.
Strawberry shortcake with the Bisquick drop biscuits and big fresh strawberries was such a summer treat in our household.
My mother’s father was a gardener, and the stories of his strawberries (and rhubarb, etc., etc.,) that grew to fist size underneath the Alaska midnight sun always accompanied the Bisquick shortcake with the more modest berries and sugar, topped with whipped cream.
I remember these biscuits because they were simple drop bisquits, all rough and brown on the top, little peaks and valleys which would be sliced off to reveal a soft center; if I were lucky, the strawberries got just a bit to much sugar, creating a too thick syrup with the strawberry juice, and for most children, there is no such thing as too much sugar.
Great entry and recipe. Given that Bisquick isn’t part of my diet, I will save this recipe and make drop biscuits, for memory’s sake.
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Oh, blue, what wonderful memories you have…and thank you sharing them.
Yes, craggy is the perfect way to describe them! I started thinking about them when I made the also-craggy lemon blueberry biscuits. Bisquick isn’t part of my life either and although I do use the Better Baking Mix I posted last year, I haven’t made those shortcakes. Some things are best left in the ole memory bank.
Thank you again.
YUM! I have really, really missed you but have been sooo busy. So glad to come and catch up! (((((HUGS))))) sandi
(((((HUGS))))) sandi’s last blog post..The Simple Woman’s Daybook?
Sandi, how great to see you!! Busy here too, but that’s better than idle hands. {{{{Hugs}}}} back at you!