Chef Danie's Cheddar Biscuits w/ green onion pesto

One of my favorite memories is waking up to the smell of breakfast being cooked in the kitchen.  The smells always tickled my nose and somehow lifted my body out of the bed and into the kitchen. Bacon,eggs,grits and BISCUITS.  A hot biscuit with melting butter always made me happy and still does to this day.  As I got older I wanted more flavors in my biscuits. I loved seeing just what combinations would work. This is the recipe that quickly became my favorite.  I hope it becomes your favorite too. 

Chef Danie's Cheddar Biscuits w/ green onion pesto

2 1/2 c self rising flour (White Lilly is best)

1 c shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar)

2 T green onion pesto ( recipe follows)

3/4 c - 1 c - buttermilk

3 T butter

1 1/2 T cream cheese Preheat oven to 450.In a mixing bowl put flour , shortening, and cream cheese.  Using your hands gently break up the shortening and the butter and mix with the flour.  Make sure all of the shortening and cream cheese are incorporated into the flour and the mixture should look like  crumbles but there should be no sign of large pieces of cream cheese or shortening.  Add cheese and pesto to the flour and then add buttermilk a little at a time.  Add buttermilk until the dough comes together into a ball.  The dough should be slightly sticky but not overly sticky.

Dust a cutting board with a light dusting of flour and place the dough on the board.  Knead the dough three to four times and pat out to 1/2 inch thickness.  Cut with biscuit cutter and mix leftover dough back into a ball and flatten to 1/2 inch thickness and cut with biscuit cutter again until all of the dough is cut.Place the cut biscuits in a cast iron pan that has been greased with butter and bake in a 450 oven for 8-10 min or until tops are slightly browned and the center is set. Serve with green onion butter (recipe below) Green Onion Pesto 2 pks green onions

2 cloves garlic

1/4 c Parmesan cheese

1/2 c extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste In a food processor blend all the ingredients except olive oil. Add olive oil until mixture comes together into a paste. In a clean food processor add one pound of salted butter.  Process until butter is creamed.  Add 2 T green onion pesto and process until fully incorporated. Serve with fresh biscuits or over steak or fish. Posted 16th May 2014 by Chef Danie