Sweet Potato Biscuits

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine

Makes about 20 small-size biscuits



1 pound sweet potatoes or yam (one large one is usually sufficient)

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (chilled), cut into small pieces

1/4 cup milk


Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Prick the sweet potato and bake until soft (about one hour...you can also do this more quickly in a microwave). Once the sweet potato has cooled, scoop the flesh from the skin and pass through a food mill, ricer or sieve. You should have about 1 3/4 cups puree.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cayenne. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter (or use your fingers) until it resembles a course meal.

Mix milk with sweet potato puree and add it to the other ingredients. Mix dough, just to incorporate (I use my hands). If the dough is really sticky, add a touch more flour. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead a few times. Pat out to a 1/2 inch thickness. Cut biscuits with a biscuit-cutter or glass.

2 inches in diameter is good.

Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Place in preheated oven and cook until risen and slightly brown, about 12 minutes (longer for larger biscuits). Serve warm.

Bacon and Cheese Biscuits

Bacon and Cheese Biscuits
(6 biscuits)

1-1/2 cups Bisquick biscuit mix
1/2 cup low fat milk
3 strips bacon or panchetta diced
1/4 cup grated swiss cheese
honey or maple syrup to drizzle

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small pan, render the bacon pieces till crisp. Drain the crisped bits and reserve the bacon fat for later use. Meanwhile, mix the biscuit mix, milk and cheese to form a sticky dough. Fold in the cooked bacon.

Using an ice cream scoop, spoon out dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the top is golden. Cool on rack for a few minutes and serve warm with honey and maple syrup.

Note: I use swiss cheese instead of the usual cheddar because I did not want a sharp cheese taste, more of a sublime is what I am reaching for.