Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Valentine Barbecue Biscuits




Valentine Barbecue Biscuits

Dorcas Annette Walker


I’m the type of cook that thinks a little bit more is better. My daughter on the other hand will count out a potato for each person and add one to the pot. I count the people, grab an extra large size pan, and fill it up. So invariably I end up with leftovers. While I don’t go as far as my grandmother did- she’d grab a bowl of food and keep filling up your plate every time you emptied it during a meal at her house- I tend to rate the success of my meal by how well a person can walk after eating at my table. If they groan complaining about being too stuffed and stagger when they try to walk, I figure that my food was good. As a precaution for preventing heart attacks or sudden seizures we sit around and talk for awhile after everyone is finished eating. I was raised that mealtime should not only be a time for enjoying food, but also a time for fellowship. To me the table should be a haven from the fast paced society that we live in. I always made it a rule for our family to gather around the table at least one time a day no matter if I had to juggle the hour back or forth in order to accomplish my goal. Now that my children are grown I cherish our mealtimes together even more when they come back home for a visit.


Nighttime snacks can also be an opportunity of fellowship whether it is with the family, a youth group, or an adult get-to-gether. Leftovers are an ideal chance of using food in different creative ways. One Sunday afternoon as I was scrambling around trying to figure out what to have for our Sunday night open house at the parsonage, I decided to experiment with the leftover roast and came up with my Valentine Barbecue Biscuits.


Any leftover meat such as pork, hamburger, and beef can be used in making the Valentine Barbecue Biscuits. Also in place of biscuits you can substitute soft tacos, pita bread or a slice of regular bread. These Valentine Barbecue Biscuits are quick and easy to make- I’ve even made them up beforehand ready to pop into the oven at the last minute. So use your imagination and don’t be afraid to personalize your Valentine Barbecue Biscuits to pamper the taste buds of your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day.


Valentine Barbecue Biscuits


1 (16oz) can of jumbo-size buttermilk biscuits
1 c cooked meat (chopped or shredded into bite-size pieces)
½ c barbecue sauce (any flavor)
1 c shredded mozzarella cheese


Flatten out each biscuit making a slightly raised edge on a greased baking tray. Mix the meat and barbecue sauce together then place a heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture on top of each biscuit. Sprinkle on shredded cheese and bake in the oven at 350º for fifteen minutes until slightly browned. Serve hot right from the oven! This recipe makes eight Valentine Barbecue Biscuits.


Weekly tip: Refrigerated canned biscuits make ideal crusts when flattened out and can be used in a pinch for about any recipe. I always like to keep a couple of cans of biscuits in my refrigerator for any unexpected company.


Dorcas Annette Walker is a published author, columnist, speaker, freelance magazine writer, and photographer from Jamestown, Tennessee. Contact her at: dorcaswalker@twlakes.net. For more recipes check out her Creative Mountain Cookin page and blog at: www.dorcasannettewalker.com

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