The Tea Biscuits that Inspired Raging Sun’s Biscuit Scene

In Raging Sun there’s a scene where fresh from the oven biscuits are served. In a recent newsletter, I mentioned that the inspiration were my mom’s own tea biscuits she baked when I was younger. After many emails requesting the recipe, my mother has agreed to unlock the vault.

There are two versions of this recipe. This is my father’s:

• Whine and whimper a lot;
• Say how Gramma and my mom used to make me tea biscuits because they loved me;
• Whimper some more;
• Mention how beautiful she looks today;
• Pray for help;
• Lastly beg.

I remember eating them a lot when I was younger, so I guess his recipe worked. Her recipe is below, though she certainly doesn’t refer to it. Remember, this is forty years of cooking and tweaking, so an extra pinch of something here, or a heaping instead of level teaspoon of something there, could change the outcome. Here it is, experiment away!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour
• 8 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 egg
• milk

Method:

Sift dry ingredients together.  Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender.  In a one cup measuring cup, beat the egg with a fork until frothy then fill cup to top with milk.  Add another 1/2 cup milk.  Mix liquid into dry mixture with a fork.  Turn out onto floured surface and quickly knead until it comes together.  Do not overwork the dough or the biscuits will be tough.  Roll out onto floured surface and cut into circles.  Do not roll the dough too thinly or the biscuits won’t rise high enough.  Brush top of biscuits with cold water, this will help them brown.  Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake in 425F oven for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Try to eat just one.

I’m now calculating whether or not driving 36 hours round-trip is worth it for a batch, or should I just fly.

Or does FedEx have one of those Dominos heated delivery bags?

Hmmm, maybe Amazon Prime will deliver them by drone to my doorstep.

Woah, just had my mind blown. Can you imagine fresh baked goods delivered by drone each morning from your local bakery?

Order me a new belt, this one just shrank!

Click the cover to read a sample now!