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THE BEST VERY BERRY SHORTCAKE
Our secret for the most luscious shortcake is to
puree some of the berries spark it with lemon and orange juice and
let the berries and puree marry at room temperature. Then, when
we're ready for dessert, the biscuits must be piping hot, the
berries warm and juicy and the cream icy cool! We think its
perfection! This serves 6 - 8!
Berries:
2 quarts ripe strawberries, cleaned and cut into bite sized
pieces (approx. 6 cups cut berries).
2 oranges, juice only
2 lemons, juice only
4 - 6 tablespoons sugar, depending on the season and the
sweetness of berries.
2 pints blueberries
2 pints raspberries
1 pint blackberries |
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Softly Whipped Cream:
2
pints heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 - 3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup sour cream |
Biscuits:
2
1/3 cups "Bisquick, original
1/2 cup milk
6 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted |
1.
Several hours
prior to serving, trim and cut strawberries and place in a bowl.
2. Remove 1 cup of strawberries and one pint of raspberries
and place in blender. Add (hand squeezed) juices of lemons, orange
and 4 tablespoons of sugar, taste for sweetness.
3. Pour puree over cut strawberries and add whole
raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and taste for sweetness. Add
additional sugar if necessary - remember there is sugar in cream and
biscuits. Set aside at room temperature.
4. In a medium mixing bowl (by whisk or mixer) whip the cream
until it has soft peaks. Add the vanilla, and sugar to taste. Whip
just one minute more. Fold in the sour cream keeping cream "loose",
cover and chill until ready to serve.
5. Thirty minutes prior to serving, preheat oven to 425°.
Ready ungreased baking sheet. Place all biscuit ingredients (in
order) into a medium mixing bowl and stir until just combined. Do
not over mix.
6. Drop 6 - 8 biscuits into even amounts onto baking sheet.
Bake 12-14 minutes on middle rack in oven until golden brown.
8. When biscuits are done, immediately place 1 biscuit, in a
shallow bowl or on a plate. Ladle berries and juice over hot
biscuits. Top with a generous dolling of Softly Whipped Cream.
Smile.
"Everything to excess. To enjoy life, take big bites.
Moderation is for monks."
--- Robert Heinlein, "Time
Enough for Love"
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