In former First Lady Julia Grant’s personal memoir, she refers to the deliciousness of Maryland Biscuits and how they were a favorite in the Grant household. So…I thought I would make something that Julia Grant and her family enjoyed very much – especially since today is her birthday!

Maryland Biscuits Recipe

Ingredients

4 cups unbleached flour*
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup lard or butter
1 ½ cup water, milk or cream

Directions

1: Place flour, salt and lard/butter in a mixing bowl. Cut (mix) lard into flour using finger tips until lard in mixed into flour.

2: Mix in a little of the water or milk at a time, mixing to create a stiff dough. Note, if dough is too dry, add a little more liquid. Too wet, add a little more flour.

3: Place dough on a work table that has been lightly floured.

4: Using a mallet or a rolling pin beat the dough until it begins to blister. This takes about a half hour.

5: pat out dough and cut into rounds or pinch dough off to make small balls about the size of a small egg and flatten a little before placing on baking sheet.

6: Place biscuits on a greased baking pan. Using a fork poke a few holes in the top of each biscuit.

7: Bake at 425 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes – until brown. Serve hot

Makes about 2 dozen biscuits.

*I used regular flour for this recipe. The biscuits came out fine – delicious!

(Recipe from The National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/)