CHAPTER V

BISCUITS, BREAKFAST CAKES, AND SHORTCAKES Batters, Sponges, and Doughs Batter is a mixture of flour and some liquid (usually combined with other ingredients, as sugar, salt, eggs, etc.), of consistency to pour easily, or to drop from a spoon. Batters are termed thin or thick, according to their consistency. Sponge is a batter to which yeast is added. Dough differs from batter inasmuch as it is stiff enough to be handled. Cream Scones 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking power 2 teaspoons sugar ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter 2 eggs ⅓ cup cream Mix and sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Rub in butter with tips of fingers; add eggs well beaten, and cream. Toss on a floured board, pat, and roll to three-fourths inch in thickness. Cut in squares, brush with white of egg, sprinkle with sugar, and bake in a hot oven fifteen minutes. Baking Powder Biscuit I 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon lard ¾ cup milk and water in equal parts 1 tablespoon butter Mix dry ingredients, and sift twice. Work in butter and lard with tips of fingers; add gradually the liquid, mixing with knife to a soft dough. It is impossible to determine the exact amount of liquid, owing to differences in flour. Toss on a floured board, pat and roll lightly to one-half inch in thickness. Shape with a biscuit-cutter. Place on buttered pan, and bake in hot oven twelve to fifteen minutes. If baked in too slow an oven, the gas will escape before it has done its work. Many obtain better results by using bread flour. Baking Powder Biscuit II 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons butter ¾ cup milk ½ teaspoon salt Mix and bake as Baking Powder Biscuit I. Emergency Biscuit Use recipe for Baking Powder Biscuit I or II, with the addition of more milk, that mixture may be dropped from spoon without spreading. Drop by spoonfuls on a buttered pan, one-half inch apart. Brush over with milk, and bake in hot oven eight minutes. Fruit Rolls (Pin Wheel Biscuit) 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons butter ⅔ cup milk ⅓ cup stoned raisins (finely chopped) 2 tablespoons citron (finely chopped) ⅓ teaspoon cinnamon Mix as Baking Powder Biscuit II. Roll to one-fourth inch thickness, brush over with melted butter, and sprinkle with fruit, sugar, and cinnamon. Roll like a jelly roll; cut off pieces three-fourths inch in thickness. Place on buttered tin, and bake in hot oven fifteen minutes. Currants may be used in place of raisins and citron. Twin Mountain Muffins ¼ cup butter ¼ cup sugar 1 egg ¾ cup milk 2 cups flour 3 teaspoons baking powder Cream the butter; add sugar and egg well beaten; sift baking powder with flour, and add to the first mixture, alternating with milk. Bake in buttered tin gem pans twenty-five minutes. One Egg Muffins I 3½ cups flour 6 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1⅓ cups milk 3 tablespoons melted butter 1 egg 3 tablespoons sugar Mix and sift dry ingredients; add gradually milk, egg well beaten, and melted butter. Bake in buttered gem pans twenty-five minutes. If iron pans are used they must be previously heated. This recipe makes thirty muffins. Use half the proportions given and a small egg, if half the number is required. One Egg Muffins II 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 egg Mix and bake as One Egg Muffin I. Berry Muffins I (without eggs) 2 cups flour ¼ cup sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoon butter 1 cup milk (scant) 1 cup berries ½ teaspoon salt Mix and sift dry ingredients; work in butter with tips of fingers; add milk and berries. Berry Muffins II ¼ cup butter ⅓ cup sugar 1 egg 2⅔ cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 cup berries Cream the butter; add gradually sugar and egg well beaten; mix and sift flour, baking powder, and salt, reserving one-fourth cup flour to be mixed with berries and added last; the remainder alternately with milk. Queen of Muffins ¼ cup butter ⅓ cup sugar 1 egg ½ cup milk (scant) 1½ cups flour 2½ teaspoons baking powder Mix and bake same as Twin Mountain Muffins. Rice Muffins 2¼ cups flour ¾ cup hot cooked rice 5 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons sugar 1 cup milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons melted butter ½ teaspoon salt Mix and sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder; add one-half milk, egg well beaten, the remainder of the milk mixed with rice, and beat thoroughly; then add butter. Bake in buttered muffin rings placed in buttered pan or buttered gem pans. Oatmeal Muffins 1 cup cooked oatmeal 1½ cups flour 2 tablespoons sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons melted butter Mix and bake as Rice Muffins. Graham Muffins I 1¼ cups Graham flour 1 cup flour 1 cup sour milk ⅓ cup molasses ¾ teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon salt Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk to molasses, and combine mixtures. Graham Muffins II 1 cup Graham or entire wheat flour 1 cup flour ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon melted butter 4 teaspoons baking powder Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk gradually, egg well beaten, and melted butter; bake in hot oven in buttered gem pans twenty-five minutes. Rye Muffins I Make as Graham Muffins II, substituting rye meal for Graham flour. Rye Muffins II 1¼ cups rye meal 1¼ cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup molasses 1¼ cups milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon melted butter Mix and bake as Graham Muffins II, adding molasses with milk. Rye Gems 1⅔ cups rye flour 1⅓ cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup molasses 1¼ cups milk 2 eggs 3 tablespoons melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients, add molasses, milk, eggs well beaten, and butter. Bake in hot oven in buttered gem pans twenty-five minutes. Corn Meal Gems ½ cup corn meal 1 cup flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon melted butter ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup milk 1 egg Mix and bake as Graham Muffins II. Hominy Gems ¼ cup hominy ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup boiling water 1 cup scalded milk 1 cup corn meal 3 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons butter 2 eggs 3 teaspoons baking powder Add hominy mixed with salt to boiling water and let stand until hominy absorbs water. Add scalded milk to corn meal, then add sugar and butter. Combine mixtures, cool slightly, add yolks of eggs beaten until thick, and whites of eggs beaten until stiff. Sift in baking powder and beat thoroughly. Bake in hot buttered gem pans. Berkshire Muffins ½ cup corn meal ½ cup flour ½ cup cooked rice 2 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon salt ⅔ cup scalded milk (scant) 1 egg 1 tablespoon melted butter 3 teaspoons baking powder Turn scalded milk on meal, let stand five minutes; add rice, and flour mixed and sifted with remaining dry ingredients. Add yolk of egg well beaten, butter, and white of egg beaten stiff and dry. Golden Corn Cake ¾ cup corn meal 1¼ cups flour ¼ cup sugar 5 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 egg 1 or 2 tablespoons melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients. Add milk, egg well beaten, and butter; bake in shallowed buttered pan in hot oven twenty minutes. Corn Cake (sweetened with Molasses) 1 cup corn meal ¾ cup flour 3½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup molasses ¾ cup milk 1 egg 1 tablespoon melted butter Mix and bake as Golden Corn Cake, adding molasses to milk. White Corn Cake ¼ cup butter ½ cup sugar 1⅓ cups milk Whites 3 eggs 1¼ cups white corn meal 1¼ cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Cream the butter; add sugar gradually; add milk, alternating with dry ingredients, mixed and sifted. Beat thoroughly; add whites of eggs beaten stiff. Bake in buttered cake pan thirty minutes. Rich Corn Cake 1 cup corn meal 1 cup white flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ¼ cup sugar ½ teaspoon salt ⅞ cup milk 2 eggs ¼ cup melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients. Add milk, gradually, eggs well beaten, and butter. Bake in a buttered, shallow pan, in a hot oven. Susie’s Spider Corn Cake 1¼ cups corn meal 2 cups sour milk 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 2 tablespoons butter Mix soda, salt, and corn meal; gradually add eggs well beaten and milk. Heat frying-pan, grease sides and bottom of pan with butter, turn in the mixture, place on middle grate in hot oven, and cook twenty minutes. White Corn Meal Cake 1 cup scalded milk ½ cup white corn meal 1 teaspoon salt Add salt to corn meal, and pour on gradually milk. Turn into a buttered shallow pan to the depth of one-fourth inch. Bake in a moderate oven until crisp. Split and spread with butter. Pop-overs 1 cup flour ¼ teaspoon salt ⅞ cup milk 2 eggs ½ teaspoon melted butter Mix salt and flour; add milk gradually, in order to obtain a smooth batter. Add egg, beaten until light, and butter; beat two minutes,—using Dover egg-beater,—turn into hissing hot buttered iron gem pans, and bake thirty to thirty-five minutes in a hot oven. They may be baked in buttered earthen cups, when the bottom will have a glazed appearance. Small round iron gem pans are best for Pop-overs. Graham Pop-overs ⅔ cup entire wheat flour ⅓ cup flour ¼ teaspoon salt ⅞ cup milk 1 egg ½ teaspoon melted butter Prepare and bake as Pop-overs. Breakfast Puffs 1 cup flour ½ cup milk ½ cup water Mix milk and water; add gradually to flour, and beat with Dover egg-beater until very light. Bake same as Pop-overs. Fadges 1 cup entire wheat flour 1 cup cold water Add water gradually to flour, and beat with Dover egg-beater until very light. Bake same as Pop-overs. Zante Muffins ½ cup butter ¾ cup sugar 3 eggs 1½ cups milk 2 cups corn meal 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 5 teaspoons baking powder ½ cup currants Cream the butter; add sugar, gradually, eggs well beaten, and milk; then add dry ingredients mixed and sifted, and currants. Bake in buttered individual tins. Maryland Biscuit 1 pint flour ⅓ cup lard 1 teaspoon salt Milk and water in equal quantities _Southern Pupil_ Mix and sift flour and salt; work in lard with tips of fingers, and moisten to a stiff dough. Toss on slightly floured board, and beat with rolling-pin thirty minutes, continually folding over the dough. Roll one-third inch in thickness, shape with round cutter two inches in diameter, prick with fork, and place on a buttered tin. Bake twenty minutes in hot oven. GRIDDLE-CAKES Sour Milk Griddle-cakes 2½ cups flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups sour milk 1¼ teaspoons soda 1 egg Mix and sift flour, salt, and soda; add sour milk, and egg well beaten. Drop by spoonfuls on a greased hot griddle; cook on one side. When puffed, full of bubbles, and cooked on edges, turn, and cook other side. Serve with butter and maple syrup. Sweet Milk Griddle-cakes 3 cups flour 1½ tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup sugar 2 cups milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients; beat egg, add milk, and pour slowly on first mixture. Beat thoroughly, and add butter. Cook same as Sour Milk Griddle-cakes. Begin cooking cakes at once or more baking powder will be required. Entire Wheat Griddle-cakes ½ cup entire wheat flour 1 cup flour 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar 1 egg 1¼ cups milk 1 tablespoon melted butter Prepare and cook same as Sweet Milk Griddle-cakes. Corn Griddle-cakes 2 cups flour ½ cup corn meal 1½ tablespoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons salt ⅓ cup sugar 1½ cups boiling water 1¼ cups milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons melted butter Add meal to boiling water, and boil five minutes; turn into bowl, add milk, and remaining dry ingredients mixed and sifted, then the egg well beaten, and butter. Cook same as other griddle-cakes. Rice Griddle-cakes I 2½ cups flour ½ cup cold cooked rice 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup sugar 1½ cups milk 1 egg 2 tablespoons melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients. Work in rice with tips of fingers; add egg well beaten, milk, and butter. Cook same as other griddle-cakes. Rice Griddle-cakes II 1 cup milk 1 cup warm boiled rice ½ teaspoon salt Yolks 2 eggs Whites 2 eggs 1 tablespoon melted butter ⅞ cup flour Pour milk over rice and salt, add yolks of eggs beaten until thick and lemon color, butter, flour, and fold in whites of eggs beaten until stiff and dry. Bread Griddle-cakes 1½ cups fine stale bread crumbs 1½ cups scalded milk 2 tablespoons butter 2 eggs ½ cup flour ½ teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons baking powder Add milk and butter to crumbs, and soak until crumbs are soft; add eggs well beaten, then flour, salt, and baking powder mixed and sifted. Cook same as other griddle-cakes. Buckwheat Cakes ⅓ cup fine bread crumbs 2 cups scalded milk ½ teaspoon salt ¼ yeast cake ½ cup lukewarm water 1¾ cups buckwheat flour 1 tablespoon molasses Pour milk over crumbs, and soak thirty minutes; add salt, yeast cake dissolved in lukewarm water, and buckwheat to make a batter thin enough to pour. Let rise over night; in the morning, stir well, add molasses, one-fourth teaspoon soda dissolved in one-fourth cup lukewarm water, and cook same as griddle-cakes. Save enough batter to raise another mixing, instead of using yeast cake; it will require one-half cup. Waffles 1¾ cups flour 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup milk Yolks 2 eggs Whites 2 eggs 1 tablespoon melted butter Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk gradually, yolks of eggs well beaten, butter, and whites of eggs beaten stiff; cook on a greased hot waffle-iron. Serve with maple syrup. A waffle-iron should fit closely on range, be well heated on one side, turned, heated on other side, and thoroughly greased before iron is filled. In filling, put a tablespoonful of mixture in each compartment near centre of iron, cover, and mixture will spread to just fill iron. If sufficiently heated, it should be turned almost as soon as filled and covered. In using a new iron, special care must be taken in greasing, or waffles will stick. Waffles with Boiled Cider Follow directions for making Waffles. Serve with BOILED CIDER. Allow twice as much cider as sugar, and let boil until of a syrup consistency. Rice Waffles 1¾ cups flour ⅔ cup cold cooked rice 1½ cups milk 2 tablespoons sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon melted butter 1 egg Mix and sift dry ingredients; work in rice with tips of fingers; add milk, yolk of egg well beaten, butter, and white of egg beaten stiff. Cook same as Waffles. Virginia Waffles 1½ cups boiling water ½ cup white corn meal 1½ cups milk 3 cups flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1¼ tablespoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons salt Yolks 2 eggs Whites 2 eggs 2 tablespoons melted butter Cook meal in boiling water twenty minutes; add milk, dry ingredients mixed and sifted, yolks of eggs well beaten, butter, and whites of eggs beaten stiff. Cook same as Waffles. [Illustration: WAFFLES.—_Page 80._ ] [Illustration: STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE.—_Page 84._ ] [Illustration: SHIRRED EGG.—_Page 97._ ] [Illustration: EGGS À LA COMMODORE.—_Page 97._ ] Raised Waffles 1¾ cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon butter ¼ yeast cake ¼ cup lukewarm water 2 cups flour Yolks 2 eggs Whites 2 eggs Scald milk; add salt and butter, and when lukewarm, add yeast cake dissolved in water, and flour. Beat well; let rise over night; add yolks of eggs well beaten, and whites of eggs beaten stiff. Cook same as Waffles. By using a whole yeast cake, the mixture will rise in one and one-half hours. Fried Drop Cakes 1⅓ cups flour 2½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ⅓ cup sugar ½ cup milk 1 egg 1 teaspoon melted butter Beat egg until light; add milk, dry ingredients mixed and sifted, and melted butter. Drop by spoonfuls in hot, new, deep fat; fry until light brown and cooked through, which must at first be determined by piercing with a skewer, or breaking apart. Remove with a skimmer, and drain on brown paper. Rye Drop Cakes ⅔ cup rye meal ⅔ cup flour 2½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons molasses ½ cup milk 1 egg Mix and sift dry ingredients; add milk gradually, molasses, and egg well beaten. Cook same as Fried Drop Cakes. Raised Doughnuts 1 cup milk ¼ yeast cake ¼ cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon salt ⅓ cup butter and lard mixed 1 cup light brown sugar 2 eggs ½ grated nutmeg Flour Scald and cool milk; when lukewarm, add yeast cake dissolved in water, salt, and flour enough to make a stiff batter; let rise over night. In morning add shortening melted, sugar, eggs well beaten, nutmeg, and enough flour to make a stiff dough; let rise again, and if too soft to handle, add more flour. Toss on floured board, pat, and roll to three-fourths inch thickness. Shape with cutter, and work between hands until round. Place on floured board, let rise one hour, turn, and let rise again; fry in deep fat, and drain on brown paper. Cool, and roll in powdered sugar. Doughnuts I 1 cup sugar 2½ tablespoons butter 3 eggs 1 cup milk 4 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg 1½ teaspoons salt Flour to roll Cream the butter, and add one-half sugar. Beat egg until light, add remaining sugar, and combine mixtures. Add three and one-half cups flour, mixed and sifted with baking powder, salt, and spices; then enough more flour to make dough stiff enough to roll. Toss one-third of mixture on floured board, knead slightly, pat, and roll out to one-fourth inch thickness. Shape with a doughnut cutter, fry in deep fat, take up on a skewer, and drain on brown paper. Add trimmings to one-half remaining mixture, roll, shape, and fry as before; repeat. Doughnuts should come quickly to top of fat, brown on one side, then be turned to brown on the other; avoid turning more than once. The fat must be kept at a uniform temperature. If too cold, doughnuts will absorb fat; if too hot, doughnuts will brown before sufficiently risen. See rule for testing fat. Doughnuts II 4 cups flour 1½ teaspoons salt 1¾ teaspoons soda 1¾ teaspoons cream of tartar ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ½ tablespoon butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup sour milk 1 egg Put flour in shallow pan; add salt, soda, cream of tartar, and spices. Work in butter with tips of fingers; add sugar, egg well beaten, and sour milk. Stir thoroughly, and toss on board thickly dredged with flour; knead slightly, using more flour if necessary. Pat and roll out to one-fourth inch thickness; shape, fry, and drain. Sour milk doughnuts may be turned as soon as they come to top of fat, and frequently afterwards. Doughnuts III 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1⅓ cups sour milk 4 tablespoons melted butter 2 teaspoons soda 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg Flour Mix ingredients in order given; shape, fry, and drain. Crullers ¼ cup butter 1 cup sugar Yolks 2 eggs Whites 2 eggs 4 cups flour ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg 3½ teaspoons baking powder 1 cup milk Powdered sugar and cinnamon Cream the butter, add sugar gradually, yolks of eggs well beaten, and whites of eggs beaten stiff. Mix flour, nutmeg, and baking powder; add alternately with milk to first mixture; toss on floured board, roll thin, and cut in pieces three inches long by two inches wide; make four one-inch parallel gashes crosswise at equal intervals. Take up by running finger in and out of gashes, and lower into deep fat. Fry same as Doughnuts I. Strawberry Short Cake I 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons sugar ¾ cup milk ¼ cup butter Mix dry ingredients, sift twice, work in butter with tips of fingers, and add milk gradually. Toss on floured board, divide in two parts. Pat, roll out, and bake twelve minutes in a hot oven in buttered Washington pie or round layer cake tins. Split, and spread with butter. Sweeten strawberries to taste, place on back of range until warmed, crush slightly, and put between and on top of Short Cakes; cover top with Cream Sauce I. Strawberry Short Cake II 2 cups flour 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar ⅓ cup butter ¾ cup milk Mix same as Strawberry Short Cake I. Toss and roll on floured board. Put in round buttered tin, and shape with back of hand to fit pan. Rich Strawberry Short Cake 2 cups flour ¼ cup sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt Few grains nutmeg 1 egg ⅓ cup butter 1¼ tablespoons lard ⅓ cup milk Mix dry ingredients and sift twice, work in shortening with tips of fingers, add egg well beaten, and milk. Bake same as Strawberry Short Cake II. Split cake and spread under layer with Cream Sauce II. Cover with strawberries which have been sprinkled with powdered sugar; again spread with sauce, and cover with upper layer. Fruit Short Cake ¼ cup butter ½ cup sugar 1 egg ¼ cup milk 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt Cream the butter, add sugar gradually, and egg well beaten. Mix and sift flour, baking powder, and salt, adding alternately with milk to first mixture. Beat thoroughly, and bake in a buttered round tin. Cool, spread thickly with sweetened fruit, and cover with Cream Sauce I or II. Fresh strawberries, peaches, apricots, raspberries, or canned quince or pineapple may be used. When canned goods are used, drain fruit from syrup and cut in pieces. Dilute cream for Cream Sauce with fruit syrup in place of milk. Any shortcake mixture may be made for individual service by shaping with a large biscuit-cutter; or mixture may be baked in a shallow cake pan, centre removed and filled with fruit, and pieces baked separately to introduce to represent handles.