All alone with a giant box of Bisquick...

I suppose since I referenced a Bisquick biscuit in yesterday's post, I should follow through with an actual recipe. And in fact, I have two quick biscuit recipes for you today, both of which are pretty good.

Way back in early February, in anticipation of Superbowl Sunday, I was searching these interwebs for ideas for making a Creole cole slaw. In my search, I ran across an intriguing copycat recipe for Popeye's biscuits made with, of all things, 7-Up! I liked the idea of a carbonated beverage giving the biscuits a little lightness and lift, plus a little sweetness from the sugary soda. And of course, the sour cream gives them a lusciousness and that characteristic tang. Moreover, they were certainly a snap to make, and my midwestern-born, biscuit-lovin' roomie gave them rave reviews.

"Popeye's" Biscuits
(Source: Star Lynx Secret Recipes)

4 cups Bisquick baking mix
3/4 cup 7-Up or Sprite
1 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons butter

Blend Bisquick mix, sour cream and 7-Up together. Melt butter in a pan. Roll out the biscuits and dip them in the melted butter. Place biscuits in a pan and pour the remaining butter over them. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Like I said in my last post, when I asked my BFF, Cyd, to pick up some Bisquick for me at the store, I should have specified which size box! She came home with a GINORMOUS package of the stuff, and I rarely use it, except to make a zucchini bake in the summer, or to make quick pancakes once in awhile. But now I have a ton of it to use up, so I am on the hunt for interesting Bisquick-based recipes. In one of my recent web surfs, I happened upon another biscuit recipe from a now defunct midwestern restaurant called Bill Knapps. (My friends from that region tell me that it was similar to a Bob Evans.) I liked this recipe even better than the Popeye's knock-off. The secret ingredient in this Bisquick biscuit is cottage cheese that you whiz up with an egg in the food processor or blender until smooth, yielding a very tender, very moist biscuit. Much like biscuit #1 above, it has a little bit of sweetness from added sugar and also a hint of lemon to balance out the rich flavor and texture. And my Ohio Buckeye roomie LOVED them!

"Bill Knapp's" Biscuits
(Source: Uncle Phaedrus, Finder of Lost Recipes)
Makes 7 medium-sized biscuits

4 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice

In medium bowl stir sweetener with Bisquick just to combine. Set aside.

Put remaining ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth and completely combined. Pour into Bisquick mixture and stir with a large spoon until every particle is completely moistened and dough comes away from the side of the bowl.

Dust your hands with Bisquick and knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Shape dough into 7 equal patties, each about 1 inch thick. Place one in center of greased 8-inch pie plate and arrange remaining 6 biscuits around it.

Wipe top of each biscuit with dab of soft butter or margarine. Cover with inverted glass bowl or Pyrex lid sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Allow biscuits to "proof" (rise) for about 30 minutes. (Gina's note: This step made no sense to me, as this is not a yeasted dough. But amazingly, they did get a lot "poofier!")

Bake in preheated 450-degree oven 16-18 minutes or until golden brown and doubled in size.