Butter Palm or Appalachian Biscuits

• From: Eclectic Recipes

Ingredients

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 4 Tbs vegetable shortening

• 1 cup whole milk

• Butter to top biscuits

Biscuits rolled in the palm of your hand—a method that comes from Appalachia.

Directions

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift baking powder, salt, and flour together. Add vegetable shortening and combine with a fork until mixture is crumbly.
• Make a well in the middle of the mixture and add the milk. Mix with fork until it begins to come together.
• Place on a lightly floured surface. Fold over and knead just a few times until everything is incorporated. Do not overwork the dough.
• Instead of rolling out the dough, tear off a golf ball sized ball of dough, and with lightly floured hands roll around in your hand 4 to 5 times until you get a uniform, slightly flattened ball.
• Place on cookie sheet. Use two fingers to press down in the center to create a slight depression. Repeat with rest of dough.
• Place biscuits just touching on cookie sheet for more of a rise and soft sides. For crunchy biscuits with soft centers, space them about an inch apart.
• Place 1/2 a pad of butter on top of every biscuit. Bake biscuits until golden brown for 15 to 20 minutes.