Buttermilk Biscuits

How to Make Buttermilk Biscuits

One of the things I often get asked is how to make easy, fluffy buttermilk biscuits. This buttermilk biscuit recipe (or baking powder biscuits or lard biscuits as they are often called) will show you an easy way to ensure tender fluffy biscuits each and every time.
This is a great recipe for plain biscuits that can easily be "jazzed up" with a variety of ingredients. You will find our huge array of variations on this wonderful recipe below in our Tips and Variations section.
You'll see that with this basic recipe for buttermilk biscuits and the wide variety of ingredients you can add, your menu can easily be filled with wonderful biscuit treats on a regular basis.

Ingredients for Basic Buttermilk Biscuits:
2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
4 or 5 tablespoons cold butter and lard or cold butter and vegetable shortening, mixed
1 egg beaten (optional)
2/3 cup (or a bit less) milk or buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450ºF.
Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together. Cut in the cold butter and lard or cold butter and vegetable shortening with a wire pastry cutter.
Add the egg and milk or buttermilk to the mixture, but just enough to create a dough that is light and soft but stiff enough to handle.
Put the dough on a floured board and mould it gently into a ball. Try to handle it as little as possible. Roll the dough out very gently to 1/2 in thickness and cut with a 1 1/2" or 2" cutter.
Place the cut biscuits on a greased and floured baking pan. If you have the time, it's best to chill the biscuits on the pan for 10 minutes. Bake in a preheated oven at 450ºF for 12 to 15 minutes.
Serves 4-6
Serve warm. These are great with butter or jam, or with gravy for dinner.

Tips and Variations:
The egg is optional but adds a nice rich flavor. If using an egg you will need a bit less milk, which is why the recipe says "about" 2/3 cup milk.

The mix of butter and shortening or lard you use depends on how rich a biscuit you want. More butter creates a richer biscuit, but adding in some shortening or lard creates a more tender biscuit.

Cheese Biscuits: add 2/3 cup of grated cheddar cheese to the dry ingredients after they are sifted (or try another favorite of yours like Monterey Jack).

Herbed Biscuits: Add 3 tablespoons of your favorite herbs to the mixed dry ingredients. Fresh dill or parsley work well or add 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary or other dried herb.

Raisin or Currant Biscuits: Soak 4 tablespoons of raisins or currants in warm water for 5 minutes then add them to the sifted dry ingredients (without the soaking water). Top with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon before baking if you want.

Sour Cream Biscuits: Replace the milk and egg in the recipe with 1 cup of sour cream.
Orange Biscuits: Omit the egg. Replace 1/2 the milk with orange juice. Add the grated rind of 1 orange to the sifted dry ingredients. Include the sugar in the dry ingredients.

JOB INTERVIEW CHECKLIST

2008 is right around the corner and our Carnival will be earlier (Thank God!!!..) which means that our Country should go back working and producing in the beginning of February. For many of my former and present Students this will be the time to go back Job Hunting, for that here is a good Job Interview Checklist:

It seems like you’ve been sending out cover letters and résumés forever. Suddenly, a prospective employer has called and asked you to come in for a job interview. Take this as a compliment, as unqualified applicants typically are eliminated well before the interview process. Being invited in for a face-to-face meeting is a sign that that you’re a serious candidate for the job.
Before you head out the door, study this helpful checklist to make sure you are fully prepared for this important appointment.

Before your interview, make certain you have:
· Recent haircut/hairstyle
· Clean, manicured fingernails
· Do you have a clear understanding of the position you are applying for?
· What distinguishes you from other candidates for the position?
· What five qualities make you a good candidate?
· What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you compensate for your weaknesses?
· Why do you want to work for the company?
· Why should the company hire you?
· What skills or experiences qualify you for the job?
· What education or training qualifies you for the job?
· What hobbies or outside interests make you a better candidate?
· What were your key accomplishments during school and in your past positions?
· Can you discuss each item on your résumé or job application in detail?
· Can you list your full employment history with accurate names, addresses, and dates for each job (if applicable)?

Things to do shortly before the interview:
· Conduct a mock interview with a trusted friend or colleague for practice.
· Prepare a list of names and telephone numbers of at least three individuals who have agreed to be your personal references.
· Research the company you are interviewing with to have a general understanding of both the company history and its position in the industry.
· Spread the word through your network to see if anyone has contacts at the company that could be a helpful resource before and during the interview.
· Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer.
· Get detailed directions to the office and make transportation arrangements to arrive at the interview easily and promptly.
· Research salaries in order to have a clear expectation of how much you may be offered.
· Prepare a “closing” for the interview that expresses your desire for the job and inquires about the next step in the interview process.
What to bring to the interview:
· Extra copies of your résumé
· Business references from former supervisors, colleagues, or clients (either a list of names and phone numbers or actual letters of reference)
· Written performance appraisals
· Folder or small briefcase
· Appointment book
· Notepad and pen

Follow-up:
· After the interview, send a handwritten thank-you note to the interviewer restating your interest and commitment to the position and expressing gratitude for his or her time and consideration.
· About a week after the first interview, call the employer to check on the progress of the job search.

GOT A JOB INTERVIEW IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ??

Got a job interview next year? Congratulations! Interviews are the deal-breaker that can win or lose you the job, so now's the time to brush up on those interview skills. Have you prepared answers for all the tricky questions that interviewers can throw at you, like 'Why would you like to work here?', 'What are your weaknesses?', or those thorny scenario questions where you have to think on your feet? "Interview Skills that Win the Job" will give you the confidence you need to stay calm and in control to impress even the most hardened of interviewers. No more long-winded answers, debilitating nerves or being stumped by difficult questions - here are all the tips you need for interview success. More than a guide to answering

questions, "Interview Skills that Win the Job" covers everything you need to know, from what to do when faced with a panel of interviewers, to selecting an appropriate outfit and ensuring your body language gives the right message. Don't let this potentially nerve-wracking experience undo your chances, do your homework before the interview, and win the job of your dreams.

Link for download:

(Just copy and past it on your browser... You'll need a RAR to decompress it - download it before it gets deleted...)
http://www.mediafire.com/?8czzmommlxy

Paperback: 160 pages Publisher: Allen & Unwin (1 Jan 2005)

Language English

ISBN-10: 1741141885

ISBN-13: 978-1741141887