Strawberry Shortcakes

Strawberries are everywhere.  It's Strawberries Galore!  (If I was a Bond Girl, that would definetly be my name.  That or Sticky Buns.)

I just returned from New York City, where every farmers market was overflowing with these lucious berries.  (The markets were also full of micro greens, but I would rather buy a pint of berries than  a pint of pea sprouts any day.)  Berry surplus means just one thing to me... shortcake. 

This classic dessert has had many incarnations, but it began as a way to use up last night's biscuits.  I've seen it made with pound cake, sponge cake, cookies, scones, and those doggy-dish shaped cakes they sell at the grocery store (along with that day-glo red jell goop one is, I gather, supposed to smear onto the fruit.  Don't do it people!  Those berries have been good to you!  They don't deserve to be treated that way!)

My favorite way to shortcake is with fruit and cream sandwiched between a flaky, not-too-sweet biscuit.   When the berries go away, use any fruit you like.  And don't be afraid to flavor your biscuit with creativity.  Some of my favorite versions include "roasted plums in a sage-pecan shortcake", "mango and pineapple in coconut-macadamia shortcake", and "dried fruit macerated in cognac in a gingerbread shortcake".  Oh yeah!

And while your stretching your culinary creativity, toss the fruit with a bit of sugar, Grand Marnier, herbs, citrus zest, or vanilla for a little something extra.

INGREDIENTS

2[1/4] cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar, divided

1 TB.  baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

4 oz. butter, diced and chilled

2/3 cup buttermilk

2 TB. vanilla extract, divided

1 egg yolk

2 TB. milk

2 pints strawberries, rinsed, trimmed and halved

2 cups heavy whipping cream

METHOD

1.  Preheat oven to 375˚F.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Combine buttermilk, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and set aside.  In a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Cut-in chilled butter to pea-sized pieces with your fingertips or a pastry blender.  Make a well in the center of the flour-butter mixture, pour in buttermilk and stir gently until just moistened.  Turn the dough out onto lightly floured work surface and fold 7-8 times, just until it holds together.  Roll to 1-inch thick and cut into 2 or 3 inch biscuits with circle cookie cutter.  Place on the cookie sheet 2 inches apart.  Whisk together yolk, milk, and brush it generously on top of each biscuit, and sprinkle with extra sugar for a crispy crust.   Bake at 375˚F until golden brown, about 15 minutes. 

2.  Whip cream to soft peaks with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla.  Cut biscuit in half and use it to sandwich berries and cream.  Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar and serve.

 

 

I'm pretty sure Rainbow Bright could kick Strawberry Shortcake's @$$

 

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Autumn Recipes