Harmonic Balancer - Mama's Homemade Biscuits

My favorite newspaper columnist is Tommy Tomlinson with the Charlotte Observer. For years, I have read his column and he is always speaking my mind. The normal morning routine at our house is to have coffee, read several newspapers and online articles, and then talk about articles we have read. David knows I will want to talk about whatever Tommy Tomlinson has written so he makes sure to read that one along with his favorite sports and business reports. Today's column was vintage Tommy Tomlinson titled, "My car needs a part all humans should have, too".

The car part is called a harmonic balancer. I was amazed to learn that there was such a part in cars.

David not only knew it existed (even in old cars), he knew where it was located (near the crankshaft), and why it was there (to reduce vibrations from the engine, which reduces stress on the engine).

Growing up with four sisters, car talk was not a big part of my life; but living with three males has changed all that. Living with a house full of males changes alot of things.

Both boys are home from college and life around the house is back up to warp speed. I love having the boys home and I love having their friends around again. Over the last 20 years, we have had ALOT of activity at our house - backyard basketball, football, frisbee golf, swim parties, prom parties, the 'gallon challenge', poker tournaments and dance parties. Warp speed might not cover it.

But we have always had a Harmonic Balancer in our lives. Mama's Biscuits.

Things can be moving really fast; everyone on their own schedule with their own plans. But, when we say, "We're fixing dinner at 7:30", you can bet that the stars will line up and everyone will be at the table.

So, this week, both boys came home from college with all the stuff that college kids bring home - lamps, laptops, bedclothes, chairs, and piles of dirty laundry. Within a few days, the laundry was done. We cleaned out the storage building, cleaned out the old playroom, hauled alot of things away on the trailer and stored away the college stuff until next fall. It is amazing what can get done in just a few days with everyone working together. Cooking has stepped up to warp speed as well. We have had Mama's Pot Roast, Mac and Cheese, Corn, Beans, Salads, and Grilled Chicken.

On Saturday we wanted to clean out the Summer House. The Summer House is a screened room outside where I like to read or just visit with friends. David likes to watch golf out there. The boys like to play cards and dance. It's a great place to take a nap. Over the winter, the Summer House gets dusty with pollen and full of spiderwebs. To whip it into shape, we have to take everything out, hose it all down, and put it all back together.

So after a week of stepped up activity in the house and alot of extra boys spending the night, we planned our Harmonic Balancer - Saturday night Dinner. After looking up what was on sale, the menu was set - steak, grilled chicken, baked potato, green beans from last year, salad with ranch dressing, fruit salad, sliced tomatoes with fresh basil and Mama's Homemade Biscuits.

Mama made up her own biscuit recipe. She had watched Nishie and Mama Crowder make biscuits over the years without a recipe. Biscuits only take three ingredients - self-rising white flour, buttermilk and Crisco. The Biscuit Trinity.

Once Dad figured out the cost per biscuit and it was about 2 cents. Daddy is always figuring out the cost per item of everything. But we all understand that the material cost versus the actual value of Mama's homemade biscuits doesn't really compute. How do you compute Harmonic Balance?

Mama's biscuits are neat, tidy and uniform. They are the perfect size and shape and will melt in your mouth with just a little butter. Mama and Daddy are famous for their Country Ham Biscuits, but my favorite is a Biscuit with a slice of fresh tomato inside. I can't claim to make the biscuits exactly like Mama's, but I am working on it. It takes alot of practice to achieve Harmonic Balance.

Mama's Homemade Biscuits

4 cups sifted self-rising flour
3/4 cup crisco, and a little more the size of an egg
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, a little more or less as needed

Cut crisco into flour with pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in the buttermilk and mix a little with hands. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead 3-4 times. Dont' work with it very long or it will make the dough tough. Roll out dough about 1/4 - 1/2" thick. Cut out biscuits and place on greased cookie sheet. You should get about 24 biscuits this first cut.

Pull dough back together and roll out again. You should get about 6 biscuits the next cut and 6 the next. Mama Calls the last six the dog biscuits because they have been worked longer and will be tougher. I love a dog biscuit.

Precook at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Bag and freeze.

When you want to serve the biscuits, remove from freezer, place on cookie sheet and bake in preheated 450 degree oven for 7-8 minutes. When Mama wants to get the tops brown, she will turn on the broiler but she warns us not to get distracted. "You have to watch it like a hawk!" We know to be quiet and still while Mama achieves harmonic balance with her Homemade Biscuits browning in the oven.