Thursday, October 11, 2012

Homemade Biscuit Mix



This was inspired by a post on Live, Laugh, Rowe Kelly posted a great recipe for Coffee Cake, along with a sweet memory of how she used to make it when she was roomies with her sister. (She has an identical twin, isn't that fabulous?) Anyway, Kelly made her coffee cake with Bisquick, which prompted me to post this recipe for homemade biscuit mix that I have been making for more years than I care to tell you. It is  quick and easy, makes a bunch to keep on hand, is cheaper, can be used in  any recipe calling for Bisquick, and you can substitute water for milk!
By the way, here is a hint about how long I have had this recipe. I still have my original, written on a piece of paper, and I have a breakdown of the costs beside the list of ingredients: (Yes, this is to make the full recipe!!)
Flour .53
Dry Milk  .26
Baking Powder  .06
Salt--
Cream of tartar  .01
Sugar .02
Shortening  .60
Total Cost for approx. 29 cups of mix---$1.48 (yep, that was awhile ago!)
Sorry about the crummy pictures, I am hoping for a new camera before too terribly long. Please hang in with me, it will get better.


Baking Mix

5 pounds all-purpose flour
2 1/2 Cups Dry Milk (dry mix)
3/4 Cup double acting baking powder
3 Tablespoons Salt
2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 pounds solid shortening (such as Crisco)

Empty flour into very large bowl. Stir in baking powder, salt, cream of tartar, dry milk, and sugar.Mix well, then cut the shortening in until the mixture is the consistency of cornmeal.


Divide into zip-lock storage bags, or air-tight plastic containers. Store at room temperature.

Use in any Bisquick recipe, or try the following

Biscuits:  3 cups mix, 3/4 water. Blend, knead, roll and cut.Bake at 450 for ten minutes. Makes about a dozen, depending on size.

Muffins: 3 cups mix, 2 tablespoons sugar, l egg. Mix water and egg. Blend into dry ingredients. Bake at 450 for  25 minutes. Makes about a dozen. Add other ingredients as desired, chocolate chips, lemon zest, spices, etc.

Coffee Cake: 3 cups mix, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2/3 cup water. Blend, put into 8-in pan. Sprinkle top with mixture of 1/2 brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 3 tablespoons softened butter. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. May add chopped nuts to topping if desired.


14 comments:

  1. Hi Sandra! Thanks so much for giving my blog a shout out. These biscuits sound delish... I might have to whip some up to pair with the apple butter I just bough :) Have a fabulous day. xo, Kelly

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  2. Thanks for coming by, Kelly, and thanks for reminding me about this old recipe. Hmm, I love me some apple butter!

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  3. Sandra, your comment on my U word made me laugh! And thanks for the bus it mix recipe, I love making them.
    Thanks!
    Sandy

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  4. Hi, Sandy! I am glad I made you laugh! I love to laugh, it truly is the best medicine, and we should all laugh at every opportunity. Thanks for coming by, glad you like the recipe.

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  5. This is very useful information to me! I use biscuit mix a lot. Particularly the Pioneer brand so you have just saved me some cash girl! (And a lot more than $1.48!!) Funny that you wrote the cost down!!

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  6. Hi, Danni, glad it will be of use to you. It is really funny to see those prices now. At the time, I always compared prices of things to see if I was actually saving by making my own.I have a recipe that calls for "2 Hershey Bars(nickle size)". LOL, today, you can't smell a candy bar for a nickle! I think we were paying nineteen cents a gallon for gasoline at that time. Sigh.

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  7. What a great recipe! I love that you noted the cost next to each ingredient.

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  8. Thanks, Amy! I really should figure what it costs at today's prices, but I am sure it is still less than Bisquick, and you have more control over the ingredients.

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  9. This is a great idea. I have never thought of making my own mixes. I think I might make up some for neighbor gifts this Christmas. My son and I are Celiac so I think will try substituting the flour for rice flour maybe. The gluten free mixes are so terribly expensive but very convenient for a big, busy family. Thanks for the recipes :)

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    1. Thanks,Taunnie! I am so glad it is something you can use, and hope you can adapt it for your family. I have lots of recipes for mixes,it is much cheaper to make your own, and saves time when one is busy!

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  10. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I use to make biscuits years ago, but somehow forgot (the last few batches turned out horrible). Bisquick is so expensive. I'll definitely hold on to this. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Hi, Sherry,so hope you will use and enjoy it. Biscuits are on my table just about every day, they are so quick and easy. I'm so glad you came by!!

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  12. I make everything from scratch, and this would be nice to have already mixed for those last minutes baking! thanks!!

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