Foodies Snack's Famous Home Made Biscuits: Inspired By "Crazy Heart"

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I was watching a movie very deserving of the Oscar it got, some of you might know it, it's called Crazy Heart. In the movie Jeff Bridges character "Bad Blake" bakes some of his famous biscuits for somebody (to be vague since I'm not one to spoil movies). It so inspired me, that I have now thrown out my Bisquick habit in favor of making biscuits from scratch like Bad Blake. After several attempts because it's not as easy as you would think, I'm pretty sure I've finally succeeded with this recipe and I want to share it with you... in case your a struggling biscuit baker.

Ingredients: 


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


3/4 tablespoons baking powder


1/2 teaspoon baking soda


1/4 teaspoon salt


4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter


1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup cold milk


2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter


Dash (or two) of salt




Steps:


Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.


In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.


Cut the butter into small cubes and add it to the flour.


Using your clean fingers, gently mix in the butter.  This can also be done using a food processor.


Add the cold milk, and gently mix just enough so that everything is combined.


Fold the dough over itself a couple of times, then form the dough into a ball.


On a floured surface, roll out the dough so that it is one inch thick.


Using a pizza cutter (or a sharp knife) cut the dough into 1 1/2" squares.


Melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the microwave.


Add a couple of dashes of salt, and mix throughly.


Generously brush the tops of the unbaked biscuits with butter.


Place the biscuits in the  preheated oven, and bake for 10 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.


Try these for yourself and get back to me and tell me if they are Oscar worthy.

By the way, I can't let you go without showing off my down home biscuit shaping skills. Yes, in honor of my home state....

How To Make The Best Pasta Salad

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I admit I don't eat enough pasta salad but then I come back to my senses and realize how shameful I've been. Shameful because I realize how much I've been missing out on. That is especially true if the pasta salad is super good and delicious.

Take for example this pasta salad my wife whipped up tonight.  Ok, this is why I feel the need to post this immediately because in my opinion pasta salad doesn't get much better than this and I need to share the recipe with you.

Ingredients: 

• 1 bag of Wacky Mac Veggie Spiral Pasta (in my opinion this brand of garden style pasta is the best!) 
• 1/4 cup of Italian dressing (I prefer Full Circle Organic Tuscan Italian Dressing found at Market Street stores)
• 1/4 cup of Mild Cheddar Cheese sliced into small cubes
• Pepperoni (as much as your heart desires)
• 1/8 cup of Parmesan Cheese 
• Suggested add ins: purple onion sliced and black olives sliced

It's very important to remember, that after you mix your ingredients together for the pasta salad, to chill it in the refrigerator for a little bit. Pasta salad is a dish best served cold. 

A funny story and lesson learned, I was working out and my wife asked if I wanted veggies in my pasta salad. I quickly said no because I was so into my workout and didn't bother to ask what kind. She ended up preparing some purple onions to put in hers. Needless to say, at dinner I was reaching over and picking them out of her pasta salad.

Lesson learned because you don't want to do without those because it would be like having a salad at Olive Garden where they didn't add any. It just wouldn't be as good because it enhances the taste 10 fold. She should of been more clear though and asked if I wanted purple onions because I would of said yes on the spot. Any how, that's why they aren't in the picture but it's highly recommended just like this recipe. Oh yeah, one more thing, we didn't have any black olives and I wasn't going to the store for one thing but I've had pasta salad with them in it and it's just as highly recommended! 

Mini Foodie Snacks: Oh So Crispy Wontons

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Don't you just love those little wontons you get on your salad at Pei Wei or any Chinese restaurant for that matter? I just can't get enough of them to be honest with you. While making eggrolls the other day (please see my post entitled: Project Food Challenge: Eggrolls ), I had a simple but great idea. I took some of the eggroll wrappers and cut them into little strips and fried them. They might be simple but damn, they sure do make an unhealthy and delicious snack. So much for my New Years resolution to eat healthier. Gotta love it.