Sweet Jesus.
I really don’t know what got into me. Earlier today I was in Target, mindlessly pushing a cart full of things I completely don’t need, when I froze in front of the buttermilk. I thought of all the things I could do with the buttermilk. I thought about how I had spent thousands and thousands of dollars becoming educated on things to do with the buttermilk. I thought about all the different names for buttermilk, including sour milk and clabbered milk.
I thought about how buttermilk rather grosses me out.
And then I moved on to the bathing suit section. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the buttermilk. It was at that moment I decided to surprise Almanzo with buttermilk creations for dinner. I would rally the troops. I would put down the bathing suits I really didn’t need. I would make homemade buttermilk biscuits and my mom’s fried chicken. So there.
As my mind filled with thoughts about grease and perfectly crisp fried chicken, I thought for about .5 seconds that maybe MAYBE I should just nix the whole homemade biscuits thing and just get Pillsbury.
But then I realized my whole life would be a lie.
And I moved on.
We also had salad with Athenos feta and I also drank too much wine and then proceeded to deep clean the entire kitchen—top to bottom–for no apparent reason.
I’ll give y’all the fried chicken recipe tomorrow if you really want it. The biscuit recipe can be found here.
I used Crisco and I’m not sorry.
Actually, I’m glad.
Shortening gives biscuits a certain flakiness that butter and oil just cannot achieve. I’m not advocating you go and coat your broccoli with the stuff, but when you want to win big with biscuits, you gotta whip out the good stuff.
Don’t hurt me. You know I’m right.
Bethany @ More Fruit Please
July 18, 2010 at 10:53 pmOh, so much to love about this post! I’m really digging the name Almanzo, and the biscuits, and the chicken, and the cat. Is that weird? I’m really excited to see your fried chicken recipe tomorrow. Truthfully, I’m intimidated by buttermilk. I have no clue what it is and my mother never used it in our house. I recently bought The Pioneer Woman’s cookbook and every other recipe calls for buttermilk, so I think I’ll have to break down soon and try it!
Lisa (bakebikeblog)
July 18, 2010 at 10:55 pmoh my – dinner looks fantastic!!!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat)
July 18, 2010 at 10:59 pmWe had an expert biscuit baker come in to do a cooking demo and she swore by lard. You sure spoiled Almanzo silly tonight! Haha love that name for him.
Kaz
July 18, 2010 at 11:09 pmBiscuits just scream “Southern” to me. You gotta use the Crisco! Of course, I always just used margarine, but same diff, right? 😀
Camille
July 18, 2010 at 11:30 pmMmm, looks delish!
Dawn
July 18, 2010 at 11:44 pmOh, I totally agree with you on the Crisco! It’s all about using the right tool for the job, and for biscuits? Shortening is so the way to go.
And I would love it if you could post the fried chicken recipe. I’m pretty sure my fiance wouldn’t object to being spoiled with such a meal in the near future…
Kelly
July 19, 2010 at 1:52 amLol its all about balance- anyone who wants to hurt you for using Crisco should look elsewhere for their reading material. Though lets face it you’ve been slammed for more ridiculous things huh.
Looks like a delicious dinner!
Susan
July 19, 2010 at 9:31 amAnd that is why Jenna’s blog rocks. It’s all about about balance, and she does it and demonstrates it so well. Nobody needs to have a nervous breakdown over a scoop of lard every now and then… Her post is actually the epitome of true health and happiness. I don’t know about everybody else but I get bored (yawn) with looking at bowl after bowl of mushy vegetables everyday.
jenna
July 19, 2010 at 9:50 amAll hail lard!!
(I don’t know why I just said that)
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
July 19, 2010 at 2:25 amTrue that. I use Crisco too.
Mara @ What's For Dinner?
July 19, 2010 at 3:43 amDefinitely made those same biscuits for the husband’s birthday…they’re fabulous. I’d love the chicken recipe!
Rosey Rebecca
July 19, 2010 at 3:59 amA lot of things in my Eating Well cookbook call for buttermilk. I’ve used it once or twice– I’ve never made biscuits, though.
I LOVE how you’ve renamed your boyfriend Almanzo. You’re so ridiculous. Love it!
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/
July 19, 2010 at 4:05 amSome times you have to go back to the good stuff. Oh dexter, so cute.
Allie
July 19, 2010 at 4:11 amthat chicken!!! beautiful.
Annie D @ Annie's Simple Life
July 19, 2010 at 4:12 amTHAT LOOKS FANTASTIC.
Tina
July 19, 2010 at 4:23 amThat looks really good. Do share the recipe! I adore buttermilk biscuits. And now I’m wondering why I never have them at home. What’s stopping me. I usually only eat them when my mom makes them or out at a breakfast joint.
eatmovelove
July 19, 2010 at 4:40 amOMG – I want your kitchen table…I want A kitchen table LOL…any thing!
Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com
July 19, 2010 at 4:45 amSometimes, you just gotta use the naughty ingredients. Cookies and biscuits are two of those times.
That chicken looks awesome – kind of reminds me of the Walnut Rosemary chicken I made last week.
diana@mymarblerye
July 19, 2010 at 4:47 ami bet the boy conned you into making this meal! hahah or maybe not! either way it looks rich and yum
Wen
July 19, 2010 at 4:48 amButtermilk makes biscuits and pancakes sooooo much better. The fried chicken looks amazing!
Heather
July 19, 2010 at 5:22 amthat’s so true…isn’t it insane how much lighter and flakier biscuits are with crisco?! heaven.
Chelsey
July 19, 2010 at 5:30 amThe name Almanzo is just so manly – I love it!!! 🙂
Your food looks delicious!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
July 19, 2010 at 5:30 amI can’t do Crisco. It grosses me out like mayo. But then again, I’m more likely to buy Pillsbury biscuits than make homemade. That chicken looks so good though!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers
July 19, 2010 at 5:33 amSomehow the end result of those biscuits makes up for the potential grossness of buttermilk. YUM!!! Nothing like biscuits & fried chicken to remind you of the South!
Exercise and Eat
July 19, 2010 at 5:40 amYou’re amazing…. love this post!
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy
July 19, 2010 at 5:48 amYou are so right on the Crisco/biscuit thing! You have to use it, otherwise you shouldn’t even make biscuits in the first place! 🙂
And that’s funny – buttermilk grosses me out too! My grandparents used to drink it straight up! Yech! But it’s a must for fried chicken!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
July 19, 2010 at 5:49 amHehe I love your honesty! And I definitely had to laugh about the drinking too much and cleaning comment – alcohol sometimes has this effect on me too!
Jess.
July 19, 2010 at 5:58 amHa! your posts lately really make me certain we would be great friends in real life 🙂
I 100% agree that you need a little crisco every now and then for certain things- you would be a disgrace to the name of baker if you didn’t do such things. Life is too short to worry about such things all the time!
Dinner looked awesome. Biscuits have been on my mind lately and you gave me that final push I needed. I think I may make blueberry buttermilk biscuits since I have a truckload of blueberries to use….
Jess.
July 19, 2010 at 5:58 amHa! your posts lately really make me certain we would be great friends in real life 🙂
I 100% agree that you need a little crisco every now and then for certain things- you would be a disgrace to the name of baker if you didn’t do such things. Life is too short to worry about such things all the time!
Dinner looked awesome. Biscuits have been on my mind lately and you gave me that final push I needed. I think I may make blueberry buttermilk biscuits since I have a truckload of blueberries to use….
Jess.
July 19, 2010 at 6:02 amsorry for the double posts 😛
The Wife of a Dairyman
July 19, 2010 at 5:58 amI also like marinated with buttermilk…do you ever use it for that reason? Your chicken looks fabulous…YUM! I have yet to try that wine. Have a great day!
The Wife of a Dairyman
July 19, 2010 at 5:59 amoops, ‘marinating’ (not marinated)
Carter
July 19, 2010 at 6:02 amJenna, I think my favorite thing about reading your blog is that you fully embrace food. It is awesome to read a food blog whose writer loves healthy food, but also gets the need for a little Crisco once in a while. And copious amounts of wine.
Also, I remember well eating the dough when my own mom would make buttermilk biscuits.
I might need to make biscuits now. It may even lead my husband to forgive me for the damage I did at Nordstrom’s anniversary sale last week.
Annie@stronghealthyfit
July 19, 2010 at 6:15 amOh my goodness that picture of your cat is hilarious! So cute.
chand
July 19, 2010 at 6:17 amYou are right.
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
July 19, 2010 at 6:41 amAmazing dinner! Every so often, you just need REAL biscuits and fried chicken. Life is just better with them in it 😀
xo
Kris
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
July 19, 2010 at 6:41 amAmazing dinner! Every so often, you just need REAL biscuits and fried chicken. Life is just better with them in it 😀
xo
Kris
MMiller
July 19, 2010 at 6:50 amLove you Jenna! When you started to say “if you want the chicken recipe”…I thought you were going to say it’s in the book! So glad you may post it for us today! And I may have to buy crisco and buttermilk! Your dinner looks amazing! I’m sure Almanzo loved it!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
July 19, 2010 at 7:06 amSomething about being a chef means you shouldn’t feel bad about good food as long as you aren’t eating crisco with a spoon like Peanut butter 🙂
Lindsey @ Foodie on the Rocks
July 19, 2010 at 7:09 amHmmm, maybe it’s time to break out the Crisco then! I don’t think I’ve seen that stuff since I was 10 or so. Loving the southern style feast :D.
Paige (Running Around Normal)
July 19, 2010 at 7:15 amHardly anything better than buttermilk biscuits. Love that all the sudden you decided you’d make them in the middle of Target haha 🙂
Janna (janna's keeping it real)
July 19, 2010 at 7:21 amSweet baby Jesus is right! That biscuit is perfection!
Kate
July 19, 2010 at 7:42 amAmazon’s got the complete 60 DVD set of Little House and I’ve been dreaming about buying it.
Does Adam mind you referring him to the great “Almanzo” ?
jenna
July 19, 2010 at 9:51 amNo, I think he rather likes it actually.
Becca
July 19, 2010 at 7:46 amYou can.not. make homemade biscuits without shortening. It’s a rule. Looks delicious!
Lauren
July 19, 2010 at 7:55 amYour fried chicken looks unbelievable. And I don’t even eat meat!
But the biscuits – !! I’ve been on such a biscuit kick lately (eating out, only – haven’t had the gumption to make ’em home-made yet) and I’m pretty sure shortening has everything to do with level of crumbly, buttery perfection. Much like my grandma’s pie crusts. She wouldn’t dream to substitute anything for Crisco 🙂
Elli @ 16 and Losing It
July 19, 2010 at 8:01 amOhmywow that looks so yummy! And I totally agree about the Crisco, if you are going to go out of your way to make biscuits should you do them right?
Kate T
July 19, 2010 at 8:02 amI want the fried chicken recipe! pleaseee!
Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly
July 19, 2010 at 8:05 amSuch a good southern gal!
Kelly
July 19, 2010 at 8:17 amMy grandmother always makes buttermilk biscuits and even though I follow her recipe to the T, mine never turn out as fluffy as hers. I barely touch them and use a pastry cloth to kneed them. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Do you think her recipe is just too finicky and I should try Tyler’s version? Or is it most likely my technique? Help!
jenna
July 19, 2010 at 9:52 amI’ve been taught to knead biscuit dough only FOUR times. That’s what they taught me in school and it’s always worked for me….but what do I know?
Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary
July 19, 2010 at 8:28 amI’ve never actually had REAL fried chicken made by a REAL southerner 😉 …maybe someday? Because it looks SO GOOD
Megan
July 19, 2010 at 8:37 amFirst and foremost, your dinner looks amazing and I am incredibly jealous. I don’t want to live in a world without Crisco for biscuits (although, I think that’s the only thing I’ve ever used it in).
Also, Target is dangerous and I’m pretty convinced I should start going there with only a limited amount of cash and no credit cards… 🙂
Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
July 19, 2010 at 9:01 amThat looks amazingly delicious!! I really want some fried chicken now!
Lizz @ Leading the Good Life
July 19, 2010 at 9:24 amYum. I think I need some buttermilk in my life. I don’t eat meat anymore, but as soon as I saw your photos I could taste my mom’s fried chicken from my childhood. I’m tempted to figure out a way to fry up just the batter and crumble it over mashed potatoes….
D. Patel
July 19, 2010 at 9:29 amOddly enough I was in Trader’s two days ago and had the same thought only difference, buttermilk banana bread!!! I yet to execute the plan but will post the recipe on my blog soon.
Maura
July 19, 2010 at 9:43 amI love New England but I swear I should have been born in the South!!! Looks amazing 🙂 Glad you had a great weekend, Jenna!
Katie
July 19, 2010 at 7:40 pmYUMM!! This meal looks so good! Thanks for posting the recipes, I’m definitely gonna give it a try!
And I just started a new blog so I would love for you to check it out sometime! I read yours religiously by the way.
marie
July 19, 2010 at 11:41 pmoh wow that looks ridiculous(ly amazing)