Instructions:

Strawberry Shortcakes (T&T)

Source: Adapted from an old Ladies Home Journal magazine

Here is the recipe my third daughter ALWAYS requests for her "birthday cake" which was earlier this month. There are many different versions of Strawberry Shortcake, but this is OUR favorite. I tried a number of recipes before settling on this one - which I've now used for years.

2 pints fresh strawberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar (or add more sugar to taste)

Shortcake
2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, cut into chunks
2/3 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream, whipped stiff or equivalent
    amount of Redi-Whip or Cool Whip

Thoroughly wash strawberries BEFORE hulling (otherwise juice is lost into the water, and berries become "water-logged"). Drain and remove hulls. Thinly slice berries into into a medium bowl; toss with 1/4 cup sugar. Refrigerate. (Additional juice will form as strawberries stand.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

To make shortcakes: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Using a pastry blender (or two knives), cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

In center of mixture, make a well; pour in milk. Lightly mix with a fork until the flour mixture is moistened. (Dough will be lumpy).

Turn dough out onto a clean, lightly floured work surface; knead dough 8 to 10 times, or until smooth. (But do not over-work, or biscuits will be tough.) Roll dough to 3/4-inch thick. With a floured biscuit cutter, using a straight up and down motion, cut biscuits. Lightly press scraps together and re-roll; cut additional biscuits. (You should get at least 12 biscuits altogether.) Place biscuits about 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake on center rack of oven for 11 to 13 minutes, or until tops of biscuits are a light golden color.

Split biscuits; place 2 halves, cut side up in 6 dessert dishes. Spoon half the strawberries over the biscuits. Top strawberries with 2 additional biscuit halves, cut side down. Spoon remaining strawberries over the biscuits. Garnish each serving with a generous spoonful of whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.