Sometimes you wake up early. You’re all alone in the kitchen with nothing to do and no one to talk to.  Then you realize you just gotta have biscuits. Fresh out of the oven, split in half and slathered with butter and strawberry jam.

Not the “pop-the-cylinder-on-the-side-of-the-counter” kind either, but the real thing, made with baking powder from your pantry and butter from your fridge. A homemade biscuit that’s crunchy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft inside.

Funny thing is, though, word will spread fast about the hot biscuits. First one sleepy person wanders in and joins you. Pretty soon another one yells down the stairs, “Did I hear there are biscuits?” Before you know it, the whole family’s gathered round the kitchen table, jabbering about their plans for the day, calling dibs on the biscuit they want and leaning over each other to get at the jam.

So much for being alone in a quiet kitchen. Yea, hot biscuits do that.

Here’s a quick, easy version for baking powder biscuits that takes 30 minutes start to finish. Be sure to include shortening, along with the butter. That’s what gives the desired flaky, crunchy texture.