Bacon Onion Cheese Biscuits

Cookbook Category: Breads

These biscuits are absolutely wonderful for accompanying any meal, but if made one-third or one-quarter size (watch them carefully in the oven), they are a terrific little appetizer.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup, less 1 tablespoon, milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
4 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Sift dry ingredients into a bowl. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender. Add the milk, cheese, chopped onion and crumbled bacon, blending quickly, just until dry ingredients are moistened. A sticky dough will result.

Turn the dough out on a floured board. Flour your hands and knead the dough 3 or 4 times. Important: Do not overhandle biscuit dough or biscuits will be tough.

Roll or pat to a 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter. For soft-sided biscuits, place close together on a lightly greased baking sheet or in a lightly greased cast iron skillet (vegetable cooking spray works just fine). For biscuits that are crusty all around, place about an inch apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 450°F for 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes about 12 biscuits.

Prep time: 20 minutes; Cooking time: 15 minutes; Total time: 35 minutes