Historical recipe and humorous introduction by Cal Stuart, February 1984. Original biographical note and recipe retained; not current nutrition or health advice.
(Editor’s note: The author of the February Macho Menu column is Cal Stuart. Cal and his wife, Gee, have lived in the neighborhood since 1966.
From 1971 to 1978, Cal was the executive director of the ShinherDeBaliviere Community Council.
He remains closely involved with the neighborhood through McPherson Management, which he and Gee own.) It is mid-morning on a Low Sunday. (Low Sunday is a term used by Episcopalians to designate those two Sundays a year when you really are not expected to attend Church. Those Sundays are the first Sunday after Christmas and the first after Easter.) At any rate, it is a Low Sunday and each of your three children has an overnight guest.
A decision has to be made. What do you feed six hungry children that is such a treat, that your children’s guests will go back to their home, not only full, but impressed to a point that they will wear their own parents down as they state repeatedly what a wonderful parent I am and why can’t they do as well.
When such an occasion arises, it is obviously time for father to make BUTTER BISCUITS.
Because the biscuits do take some time and six kids can get on my nerves, I start with an important first step, the preparation of a Bloody Mary.
I have a formula that has taken twenty years to perfect. Done correctly, it is guaranteed to satisfy and as a side benefit, clean out your ears.
Please allow me to share my recipe. Place before you the following: 1. Tomato Juice 2. Lemon — a slice 3. Salt 4. Pepper 5. Worchestershire Sauce 6. Tobasco Sauce Mix the above together, using amounts equal to your taste.
To this add pinches of the following, also in amounts determined by your taste. 1. Curry Powder 2. Dill Weed 3. Celery Seed 4. Sage 5. Thyme 6. Horseradish Stir well together, add Vodka and pour into a glass containing ice cubes.
Two of these will establish you for the preparation of the butter biscuits.
For the Butter Biscuits, you will require the following: 1. 3 cups flour 2. 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 4. 1 teaspoon salt 5. Buttermilk or milk laced with vinegar (about four tablespoons to four cups of sweet milk) Mix all the dry ingredients together and begin to add the buttermilk slowly. Stir the mixture until it is of a consistancy that will stick to your spoon almost like paste. Melt butter in a fry pan. Use enough so that there is about 1/4 inch of melted butter in the pan.
When butter begins to bubble, using two spoons, add a portion of the mixture to the butter.
Each portion should be the size of a regular drop biscuit. Fry each side for about four minutes, adding more butter as needed.
This recipe should make about 34 biscuits. Serve with bacon and a selection of your favorite jams and jellies.
They are delicious and for a while will make you look like a hero.
Original photograph caption
Cal Stuart. Photo by King Schoenfeld. The Paper, February 1984, page 5.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1984.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1984_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
