Strawberry Shortcakes

 Summertime means strawberry season !  And whether your lucky enough to have them in your garden, or can get them at the farmer's market for a good price - nothing says summer like strawberry shortcakes.  And the secret to a good strawberry shortcake is in the biscuits.  I remember my aunts making these delicious shortcakes when I was a child, and they are so much better than the dry grocery store sponge cakes that you get now days.  And they're very easy and quick to make.

For the biscuits, filling, and topping - you will need:
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teas salt
1 Tabs baking powder
1/2 teas baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
3 Tabs  + 1/2 cup  + 1 teas granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 teas vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 quarts strawberries
2 teas lemon juice
1 cup whipping cream

First, I cut the butter into small cubes - then I put it back into the refrigerator, (to keep it cold, so it cuts into the flour mixture better).

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Into a large bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and 3 Tablespoons of sugar.

 Now cut the cold cubed butter into the flour mixture, until the mixture resembles small peas.  (I just use my fingertips for this, but you can use a pastry cutter or 2 knifes).

 In a measuring cup, measure out 1 cup of buttermilk.  Whisk in 1 large egg.

Next, whisk in the vanilla extract.

 Add the milk/egg mixture to the flour mixture.  Stir just until the milk mixture is incorporated, and forms together.

 Turn the dough out unto a floured surface, and knead only 4 or 5 times.  (You don't want to overwork the dough).

 Now start patting the dough out until it's about 1/2 - 3/4 inches thick.

 Cut the dough with a biscuit cutter, or large round sharp cooking cutter.  You will get about 12 biscuits.

 Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet.

I like to sprinkle just a light coating of sugar on top of the biscuits.  You can even lightly coat the tops of the biscuits with milk or egg white if you want a shiny top.


Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are nice and golden brown.

 While the biscuits are cooking, make the strawberry filling.

In a medium bowl, slice 1/2 quart of strawberries.

Mash these strawberries.

 Now slice the rest of the strawberries, and add them to the bowl with the mashed strawberries.

 Add the 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.

 Add 1/2 cup of sugar.

 Stir the strawberries well.  Set the strawberries in the refrigerator.

By now the biscuits are done, and they look good.  They have a nice golden color and are cooked completely.  Remove from the oven and let set for 2 minutes.

 Then remove the biscuits to a cooling rack.

 See how nice and high the biscuits have risen !  You can even see all the flaky layers in the biscuit.

 While the biscuits are cooling - let's make our whipped topping.

Measure 1 cup of whipping cream into a bowl.

Start beating on low.  Once the cream starts forming soft peaks add the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Turn the mixer up to medium and continue beating until your whip cream has developed nice soft peaks.

 Here's my whipped cream, with the little touch of sugar, (which makes it very tasty).

Let's start assembling our shortcakes.  First slice the biscuits in half.

 Place the bottom biscuit in the serving dish.

 Now add some of the strawberry mixture.  Don't forget to add some of the juice, (the biscuits will soak up the wonderful strawberry flavor - yummy).

If you want, you can add some of the whipped cream also.

Add the biscuit top on the strawberry filling.

 Add some more strawberry mixture.

And finally your whipped cream on the top.

 Then I like to add a slice of strawberry on top.

Now doesn't that say "Hello Summer".

Let's dig in !

If you happen to have leftover biscuits, just store them in a zipper top bag, and they will stay fresh for several days.  I put the rest of the berries and the whipped cream in a covered container in the refrigerator.  They keep well for several days.

Then when we feel the urge for a strawberry shortcake, we just throw one together in a minute, and enjoy!

Now hurry and find your strawberries before the season is over, so you can also enjoy this wonderful summertime treat.

ENJOY !!