Fresh Hot Shortcakes in 20 minutes!

I got this recipe from my mother, who I suspect just wrote it out of the Better Home and Gardens® Cookbook. I did substitute sea salt for regular salt, and the yogurt/water mixture instead of milk. Since both my husband and I are lactose intolerant we never keep milk in the house. But yogurt doesn’t bother us, and it lends a tangy flavor to any recipe when mixed about half and half with water as a substitute for milk.

Oven 450ºF
Makes about 9 biscuits

2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
2 tablespoons "raw" sugar (plus more for fruit)
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup (one stick) room temperature butter (never use margarine!)
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
¼ cup water

In a large bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Put the butter into the dry ingredients and cut it with a spatula until crumbly. Beat the egg, yogurt, and water in a separate small bowl then add to the larger bowl. Stir until it is just moistened.

Knead on a lightly floured counter top for about 10 seconds. Adjust flour at this time if it's too wet. You can either roll it flat and use a biscuit or cookie cutter to shape the biscuits, or use your hands to form them into the shape and size of your choosing. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 13 minutes. Cut in half horizantally and fill with the fruit of your choice; eat them while they’re still hot.

Fruit: Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, peaches, pears, you get the idea. Fresh black cherries are great too, but they take a little longer because you have to take out the pits. Take any of these, put into a small mixing bowl, add a tablespoon or so of "raw" sugar and chop up or mix. The freshness of the fruit takes away any guilt braught on by the ton-o-butter in the shortcakes.

This recipe is just soooooo much better than anything you can buy in the grocery store, cheaper, takes only about 20 minutes, dirties only 2 bowls and a cookie sheet, has no preservatives, and is still good tomorrow. We decided to never buy shortcake again!