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Farmhouse Crackling Biscuits

Source of Recipe

From "Biscuit Bliss" by James Villas


Recipe Introduction

"Cracklings, which are small pieces of salt pork rendered in a frying pan till very crisp, have been used to flavor breads and other foods ever since chuck-wagon days and the establishment of the nation's first farming communities. The earliest crackling biscuits were no doubt pretty heavy, but after commercial yeast was introduced in 1868, cooks were at considerably more liberty to experiment with different flours and flavoring ingredients. These biscuits are also delicious made with bits of fried bacon or country ham."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ ½ envelope active dry yeast
â—¦ 2 tablespoons warm water
â—¦ ¼ cup finely diced salt pork
â—¦ 2 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
â—¦ 1 teaspoon baking powder
â—¦ ¼ cup chilled vegetable shortening
â—¦ 1 cup whole milk


Recipe

In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the water and set aside to proof. (If the mixture does not foam up after a few minutes, it means the yeast is no longer active and the mixture should be discarded.)

In a small, heavy skillet, fry the salt pork over moderate heat till well browned and crisp, about 10 minutes, then drain the cracklings on paper towels.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the shortening and rub it into the flour with your fingertips till the mixture is mealy. Add the cracklings and stir till well blended. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour the yeast mixture and milk into the well, and stir gently just till the dry ingredients are moistened and the dough is soft. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm area about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425° F.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead about eight times. Roll out about ½ inch thick and cut out rounds with a 2 ½-inch biscuit cutter. Roll the scraps together and cut out more rounds.

Arrange the rounds on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart, and bake in the upper third of the oven till golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Makes about 1 dozen biscuits