Breakfast of champions

Every once in a while, my father would bake biscuits for breakfast. He made them the only way I knew they could be made: out of a box.

Only after I was grown did I realise that box-made buttermilk biscuits was merely a way of approximating something that could be done by hand. And it was not until even later that I came to know that homemade biscuits can be made with hardly any more effort and time than it takes to make the boxed version.

But that’s not all.

We slathered my father’s hot biscuits generously with butter — butter that we had acquired the way Nature intended, at a store. I knew that farmers of an earlier time churned their own butter, but that always seemed quaint to me, and cinematic.

It never occurred to me that I could make my own butter at home with the use of a common household appliance, and in less time than it takes to make biscuits.

And even that’s not all.

Once the butter had melted into those biscuits, we would spread each half with jam. The jam, obviously, came in store-bought jars. I realised that many people make their own jam, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I tried to do it myself. And yes, it was easier than I thought.

Honey, also, is a great topping for homemade biscuits. But let’s leave that one to the bees.

Needless to say, homemade biscuits are better than biscuits made from a box or a tube. Homemade jam is far brighter and fresher than jam from a store.

Homemade butter, however, tastes just like butter. On the other hand, making it gives you a great sense of accomplishment. Plus, it’s something to brag about casually when you serve it to guests. “What, this butter? Oh, I made it myself. I do that, you know.”

HOMEMADE BUTTER

Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon salt, optional

Note: Because of its higher butterfat content, heavy cream is preferable to whipping cream, but whipping cream will work fine. If possible, use cream that is not ultra-pasteurised. Ultra-pasteurised will work, but it will have less flavour.

Method

1. The cream will turn to butter faster if it is first left out of the refrigerator for an hour or so, but this step is not necessary. Pour cream into a food processor, a blender or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk. Blend on medium-high speed or mix on medium-high speed (you will need to cover the mixing bowl with a clean towel). The cream will first thicken into whipped cream, then separate into clumps of butter and buttermilk.

2. Strain out the buttermilk, reserving it if you choose. Place the clumps of butter in a bowl and use a large spoon to press them together. Drain out the buttermilk, and continue pressing and draining until no more liquid escapes from the butter. If desired, stir in optional salt. If all the buttermilk has been removed, the butter will keep in the refrigerator for three weeks.

HOMEMADE JAM

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds of fruit, after it is trimmed of stems, seeds, pits, etc.

1 3/4 cups (13 2/3 ounces) granulated sugar

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon (41/2 ounces) lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

Note: This recipe will work with any amount of fruit, as long as you use one-third as much sugar by weight as fruit, and one-third as much lemon juice by weight as sugar. Three pounds of strawberries, once the tops are removed, will yield around 21/2 pounds.

Method

1. Place fruit in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. If using berries, leave whole; cut larger fruits into bite-size chunks. Stir in sugar, lemon juice and salt. Allow to sit for 1 to 2 hours, or up to overnight (store in refrigerator if it will be more than a few hours).

2. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring frequently, until jam is thick and fruit begins sticking to the bottom of the pot. If the fruit does not stick, the jam will be done when the bubbles change texture and become like a burbling pot of mud.

3. At this point, the jam can be canned, if desired. Or, allow it to cool completely before transferring to the refrigerator for at least a few hours to set.

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour, chilled

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 stick (1/2 cup) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

2 cups chilled buttermilk, plus additional for brushing

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually mix in 2 cups buttermilk; toss until dough just comes together in large clumps.

2. Gather dough into a ball. Pat out on floured work surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with a little flour and gently fold into thirds, like a letter. Brush off any excess flour. Turn the dough one-quarter turn, pat out into 1/2-inch thickness and fold again into thirds. Repeat the turning, the patting out and the folding once or twice more.

3. Pat out into 1/2-inch thickness. Using floured 2 1/2-inch cutter, cut out biscuits. Gather dough scraps; press out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut into more biscuits. Repeat until all the dough is used.

4. Transfer biscuits to 2 large ungreased baking sheets. Brush tops of biscuits with additional buttermilk. Bake until tester inserted into centre comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool biscuits 10 minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

TNS