Country Ham and Biscuits from Episode 64

Here is the original recipe. See below for our modifications. Bootie learned the tips from this biscuit recipe:

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

• 3/4 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1 1/4 cups cold whole buttermilk

• 1 teaspoon bacon grease or butter

• 3 slices country ham

• softened butter, for serving

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch cast-iron skillet with butter or bacon grease.

2. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a food processor, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar. Mix or pulse a few times to combine.

3. Cut butter into flour mixture just until you get a crumbly consistency. Add buttermilk to flour mixture. Gently stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

4. Turn out dough onto a floured surface. With floured hands, pat dough to approximately 1-inch thickness, rectangular shape. Fold 1/3 of dough into center, then 1/3 of dough on the other side. Turn dough and repeat this process two more times, for a total of three times. Using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, cut out 6 to 8 biscuits. Press biscuit cutter into dough without twisting. Transfer to greased skillet. Bake until golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Remove biscuits from oven and let cool 5 minutes.

5. While biscuits are baking, cook ham: Add bacon grease to a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add ham slices and fry until edges are brown, a few minutes per side. Remove ham from skillet and place on a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Cut each slice in half.

6. To serve, split each biscuit in half, spread with softened butter, and sandwich with a piece of ham.