So breakfast is important, and I think we can all agree that a good breakfast is a great way to start off your day. There is nothing like waking up, pouring yourself a cup of coffee and sitting down to a warm, expansive breakfast feast. Cereal and milk have their charm (and believe me, I love my cereal), but a made-from-scratch breakfast is unbeatable. One of the first things I learned about my husband was his love for biscuits and gravy. It was by far his most favorite meal, and it remained so until I introduced him to the basic principles of healthy eating. When we looked at that can of biscuits and that packet of white gravy, I saw his face drop and he swore off his favorite meal for a number of months. But because I love seeing Ryan smile, I knew we couldn't give up biscuits and gravy entirely, and I began experimenting with healthier, more wholesome recipes for this southern breakfast staple.
After some unsuccessful attempts, I've finally hit upon a recipe that Ryan and I both approve of. These biscuits are made with milk instead of butter, and I use a combination of mostly whole wheat flour and a bit of cake flour. Cake flour has lower levels of protein than its heavier counterpart, whole wheat, which helps balance out the biscuit dough. I use a dash of honey for sweetness and a full tablespoon of baking powder to help these biscuits rise. When making biscuits, make sure you have a very sharp biscuit cutter. When you press down, don't twist the cutter, simply lift it up and then place your biscuit on its baking tray. Surprisingly these tips make a big difference in how high your biscuits will rise. I also find that placing your biscuit dough in the freezer while your oven preheats (about ten to fifteen minutes) also helps create a higher, flakier end result.
I've also included my recipe for vegetarian white gravy. It is super simple and delicious over eggs. I hope that these recipes inspire you to examine some of your own guilty pleasures and then encourage you to find ways to make your favorite treat from more wholesome ingredients. Enjoy!
Whole Wheat Biscuits
1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cake flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp honey
1 cup cold milk (I used whole, cream will create a flakier, more flavorful product)
1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, powder and salt. Pour in the milk and the honey and stir with a large spoon. A ball of dough will form.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll or press the dough into a rectangle that is 3/4 inch high. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out discs of dough and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
3. Place prepared cookie sheets in freezer while oven preheats to 425 degrees. Bake biscuits for 10-15 minutes or until just golden. Remove and serve immediately! (Biscuits will keep for a day or two, just store in an airtight container and reheat in a toaster oven).
Vegetarian White Gravy
1 cup milk
4 tsp flour
1 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to cook until the gravy coats the back of the spoon (you want it to be fairly thick). Remove from heat and pour over your homemade biscuits.
Whole Wheat Biscuits
1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup cake flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp honey
1 cup cold milk (I used whole, cream will create a flakier, more flavorful product)
1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, powder and salt. Pour in the milk and the honey and stir with a large spoon. A ball of dough will form.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll or press the dough into a rectangle that is 3/4 inch high. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out discs of dough and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
3. Place prepared cookie sheets in freezer while oven preheats to 425 degrees. Bake biscuits for 10-15 minutes or until just golden. Remove and serve immediately! (Biscuits will keep for a day or two, just store in an airtight container and reheat in a toaster oven).
Vegetarian White Gravy
1 cup milk
4 tsp flour
1 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook over medium high heat, whisking constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue to cook until the gravy coats the back of the spoon (you want it to be fairly thick). Remove from heat and pour over your homemade biscuits.
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