Impromptu Entertaining: Cheddar Chive Biscuits

Biscuits from scratch can be part of Impromptu Entertaining???  Why yes they can!!

These biscuits are a great addition to any meal and don’t take long to make.  And the more you practice with biscuits, the easier they become.  There is a rhythm involved that becomes second nature the more you make them.  And if practicing means having delicious homemade biscuits around more often, how fun is that!  These biscuits take about 45 minutes from start to hot, yummy finish.  The cheddar and chives add a wonderful savory flavor that works perfect with soups, barbeque, and pork.

Cheddar Chive Biscuits — from Complete Entertaining Cookbook, Williams-Sonoma

• 2 cups flour
• 1 Tbs baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 4 Tbs fresh chives, minced
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup aged cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.

Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry goods until it resembles cornmeal.  You can also use a pastry cutter for this, but I find that using the fingertip method makes for a better biscuit.  Make a well in the center of the mixture.

In a small bowl, stir the chives into the buttermilk.  Pour the buttermilk mixture into the well and add the cheese.  Stir quickly to combine, just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead gently and quickly until the dough is no longer sticky.

Pat the dough into a square about 1/2 inch thick.  Dip a 2 1/2 biscuit cutter (a glass works good too if you don’t have a cutter) in flour and then cut out 12 biscuits.

Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until a pale gold color.

Serve hot.