Tuesday, July 19, 2011

When You're Craving Fast Food Biscuits

Since I need to drop about another 20-30 lbs. I've been watching my calories closely. Occasionally, I get terrible cravings for rich carbs in the morning, and it's easy for me to make a quick dash to the nearest fast food place and grab a biscuit. Today was one of those days. I was craaving the whole enchilada: biscuits and eggs. I don't want to get into the protein vs. carb battle, but I will contend that unrefined, whole grain carbs are much healthier than refined ones, so I experimented on my clan with homemade, partial whole wheat biscuits today.

I say partial, because I've tried total whole wheat and I usually get a thumbs down and a whole host of complaints that run somewhere along the lines of not liking the taste of buttered cardboard, I think I lost a tooth biting into a boulder, blah...blah...blah... and since I am a praise hog, I had to get a little creative with unrefined white flour.

If you're wondering if my clan was happy, I would have to say that I SCORED with a lower calorie and lower fat biscuit. Granted, it doesn't melt in your mouth and the texture is a little grittier, but it's still tasty, nonetheless, and I didn't feel guilty about indulging in a biscuit for the day. Add a no nitrate ham (Hormel is the brand I get) with egg beaters, and that satisfies my fast food craving as well.

I've added the recipe below if you'd like to give it a try, and let me know what your thoughts are. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup unbleached whole wheat flour
2. 1 cup unbleached white flour
3. 1 tbsp of sugar (substitute with agave nectar if you want to make it diabetic friendly) [Update! A reader commented that agave nectar can actually cause a spike in insulin, so if you are diabetic, it's best to go with the sugar replacement your doctor recommends]
4. 3 tsp of baking powder
5. 3/4 tsp kosher salt or 1tsp of regular salt or sea salt
6. 1/2 vegetable shortening
7. 3/4 almond milk

Stir ingredients 1-5 until well blended
Blend vegetable shortening into your mix with a fork until all lumps are gone
Add almond milk and knead your mix. Roll out with a rolling pin about 1.5 inches thick and cut with biscuits cutters or shape small lumps with your hand.
Bake for 20-30 minutes at 450 degree oven.