Sunday, November 1, 2015

Cheesy Biscuits with Vegetarian Gravy

Please welcome Maddie Day (who is also known as Edith Maxwell, who has been our guest here before) as she introduces a new series, the Country Store Mysteries. Her recipe makes me hungry just reading it!


What a treat to be back on this delicious blog again! It’s also a treat because I am – I mean, Maddie Day is – launching a new series, the Country Store Mysteries. Robbie Jordan, a chef and carpenter, renovates an old country store in scenic hilly southern Indiana. In the store she opens a breakfast and lunch restaurant called Pans ‘N Pancakes, and she keeps all the vintage cookware that came with the store. Flipped for Murder begins on grand reopening day, and she doesn’t plan to have murder on the menu. But small-town secrets and bitter rivalries put sand in the batter when the mayor’s disagreeable assistant is found dead with one of Robbie’s signature cheesy biscuits in her mouth later that evening.

Biscuits and gravy are a staple in southern Indiana – think Kentucky more than the northern Midwest. Robbie’s new romantic interest, the green-eyed Jim, however, is a vegetarian. She develops a miso-based gravy for him and others of like mind, although she sure doesn’t mind a sausage or a piece of bacon on her own plate.




Cheesy Biscuits

(With thanks to the Tassajara Bread Book for inspiration)
Makes 12

Ingredients:

1 c whole wheat flour, plus extra for kneading
1 c unbleached white flour (I use all whole wheat flour, actually)
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 c butter cut in half-inch cubes
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 c grated pepper jack or sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix the dry ingredients.

Cut butter into the flour mix until mostly pea-sized pieces.



Make a well in the middle and add the eggs and milk, mixing with a fork in the well.

Add the cheese and stir all with a fork until liquid and cheese are just blended with the flour. Do not over mix.



Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface and on the dough. Scrape the dough out of the bowl onto the surface, rubbing flour around the inside of the bowl until clean.
Lightly knead the dough until it comes together. 

Flour a rolling pin. Roll the dough to a half-inch thickness. Fold in thirds. Roll, fold, and repeat several times.



Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter or drinking glass and position on a baking sheet. You don’t need more than half an inch in between.




Bake for about ten minutes or until risen and golden brown on top. Then deep fry if you want to get really authentic (Robbie doesn’t).

Serve warm with miso or meat gravy, apple butter, or honey.


Miso Gravy

Ingredients:


2 T miso
2 T water
2 T butter
1/4 c flour
3 c vegetable broth
1 T tamari or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1 tsp nutritional yeast
1/4 t black pepper
1 T cornstarch

Directions:

Combine the miso in the water and whisk until the miso is dissolved.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat and whisk in the flour. Add the miso, nutritional yeast, tamari, and pepper. Add half a cup of broth and whisk in, then gradually add the rest.



Stir the cornstarch into half a cup of the gravy and then whisk in. Allow to cook until thickened, stirring frequently.



Serve over biscuits, or on mashed potatoes for your vegetarian Thanksgiving guests.





Agatha-nominated and national best-selling author Edith Maxwell writes the Local Foods Mysteries and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries (as Maddie Day), and the Lauren Rousseau Mysteries (as Tace Baker), as well as award-winning short crime fiction. Maxwell lives north of Boston with her beau and three cats, and blogs with the other Wicked Cozy Authors. You can also find her at www.edithmaxwell.com, @edithmaxwell, and on Facebook.





Edith will be holding a drawing for a copy of Flipped For Murder. If you'd like to be included, just leave a message here (with your email address!).




Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound

Early praise for Flipped for Murder:

What a terrific debut! This deliciously clever cozy–set in a deceptively charming little town–is fresh, intelligent and delightful. A winner! -Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Mary Higgins Clark award winning author


You’ll flip for this mouth-watering new series. In FLIPPED FOR MURDER, Maddie Day serves up a tasty mystery with a side of scenic country charm. Chef Robbie Jordan is smart, quick-witted, and determined to make her Pans ’n Pancakes café a success. Stir in secrets from the past, a dollop of blackmail, a cast of credible suspects, and a cat named Birdy for a delicious read. The rolling hills of southern Indiana never looked so inviting—or so dangerous. – Leslie Budewitz, two-time Agatha Award winning author of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries

58 comments:

  1. Thanks for joining us today, Maddie! Those biscuits look delicious! Sounds like a terrific new series, too!

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  2. Can I use all white flour instead of half whole wheat?

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  3. Oh, and yes I'd love to win a copy of the new series.

    NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

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  4. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this tasty treat!
    Can't wait to read!!!
    vernagass@gmail.com

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  5. Thank you for posting. suefoster109@netzero.net

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  6. Thanks for the opportunity to win. dmskrug3(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  7. Thank you for the chance to win...but more importantly....thank you for writing this tale :)
    mommy_to_zoe@hotmail.com

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  8. Looks like great cozy mystery. Love the books cover. Great Recipe for cheese biscuits and gravy . Everything tastes better when you add cheese and gravy to it.
    xzjh04@gmail.com

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  9. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win your book! kimdavishb@gmail.com

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  10. Thanks for this lovely feature, great recipe and delightful giveaway. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  11. Would love to win! Thanks for the chance.
    brichardson0056@yahoo.com

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  12. I love your books & recipes, I would consider it an honor if I won this book, Thanks for this Awesome chance. lindamay4852@yahoo.com Thanks again, Linda May

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  13. I've never made the biscuits with all white flour, Nora - in fact I usually use all whole-wheat - but give it a try! They'd probably be light and buttery.

    And thanks, everybody, for your interest!

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  14. I'll have to try your biscuit recipe. I've always had trouble with whole wheat biscuits being very heavy so I always have to try new recipes. Thanks for your giveaway---I'd love to start this series at the beginning.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  15. I am so EXCITED to see a vegetarian option in the gravy!!! You made my weekend with this wonderful recipe. I have Beene siting for your series and now the recipe just adds to my
    Joy. Book lover, Bree breannaherron@icloud.com

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  16. I am looking forward to reading this new series. I grew up in Northern Indiana and we thought Southern really was part of the South, so different. And a tasty recipe, too. Thanks!
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  17. I'm always looking for new series. Christie.marks@ahcasualty.com

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  18. Love this used to live in southern Indiana.
    Diane Rivera
    quickchangeus@yahoo.com

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  19. I'm not a big biscuit fan but your new series sounds delicious!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  20. Thanks for including Edith Maxwell's book on your blog. It looks like a great read filled with mouth watering ideas. robeader53@yahoo.com

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  21. This book would be enjoyed greatly. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. Sue, you'll be surprised at how light these are, even with all WW flour!

    And thanks to everyone. I'm off to a luncheon and a Barnes and Noble signing in Indianapolis, but will check in this evening.

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  23. I've never made biscuits.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  24. I love biscuits and gravy and these sound YUMMY! The book sounds so good! I can't wait to read it!. My husband is from Southern Indiana (Sunman/Batesville)! Thanks for the chance to win!
    MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

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  25. This sounds amazing! The book, I mean, and the recipe also. I haven't made biscuits, but my jubby does. He might like this recipe. Congrats on new release, looking forward to seeing your Quaker Midwife series, too! jeaniedannheim ( at ) ymail ( dot ) com

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  26. I love cheesy biscuits and I'm looking forward to Flipped for Murder! patucker54 (at aol dot com)

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  27. Thanks for a chance to win your latest book and giving me a great recipe. They both sound yummy.

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  28. Edith, I've never made biscuits, but I might actually have to give these a try. Can't wait to read Flipped for Murder!

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  29. Thank you for the chance to win! I love biscuits and could eat them with every meal or as a meal. LOL! Can't wait to read Flipped for Murder. smmolloy1105@yahoo.com

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  30. Thanks so much! rhondajgothier@yahoo.com

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  31. I hope I have better luck with these biscuits than I had with the biscuits I made in 4-H. Looking forward to reading Flipped for Murder. I'm always up for a new series. dbahn@iw.net

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  32. Welcome back to the Kitchen, Maddie/Edith! Biscuits are always a welcome comfort food in our house. Thank you for sharing your twist on a classic, and big congrats to you on the launch of your new series with FLIPPED FOR MURDER. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! ~ Cleo

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  33. Thank you for the giveaway and the recipe. The book and biscuits sound great!
    Moonbay7399@gmail.com

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  34. Those Biscuits look awesome. Never had miso gravy but it sounds yummy. Lady dot Janel @ hotmail dot com

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  35. I never met a culinary cozy I didn't like. Thanks so much for offering a giveaway! jr_dj_gantt@juno.com

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  36. Thank you for the giveaway! The book sounds great. I Will have to try the recipe too. crossxjo@hotmail.com

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  37. Great recipe and awesome book! Thanks for the chance to win!
    dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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  38. What a great group of commenters and biscuit enthusiasts! They're not that hard, really.

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  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  40. I can't wait to try your recipe and would enjoy reading your book.
    diannekc8@gmail.com

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  41. I can't wait to try your recipe and would enjoy reading your book.
    diannekc8@gmail.com

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  42. Cheesy biscuits and gravy! Oh, yes! I am very interested in your book... Great cover and reviews that put it "deliciously" on my must read list. kat8762@aol.com

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  43. Thanks for the recipe but I think I shall stick to Bacon or Sausage in my gravy. Looking forword to reading this new series from you

    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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  44. I'm excited to read this new series & see what recipes you include.
    bpwoodfield@gmail.com

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  45. Homemade biscuits can't be beat and these sound delicious. Your book is on my wish list. servedogmom@yahoo.com

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  46. How did you come up with the vegetarian gravy sauce?

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  47. My vegetarian sister used to make a miso gravy, so I thought I'd put it in, BreAnna.

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  48. Marsha is the winner of the book! Thanks to everyone for commenting - I wish I had forty books to give away.

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  49. Wow That ended quickly.
    Oh, well, if you snooze, you lose.

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  50. Looks wonderful, thanks!
    Mygnomeshome(@)gmsil(.)com

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  51. This recipe looks delish! Nstolldorf@gmail.com

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  52. This looks like an alternative to biscuits and gravy. pamelattfn@yahoo.com

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  53. Both recipes sound good. I might try them for Family Brunch one Sunday.

    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  54. I will have to try the recipe as my daughter is very fond of miso.Thank-you for the chance to win a copy of Flipped For Murder.

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  55. I know the contest is over but could you get a close up picture of your whisk? I think I see a red rabbit inside it. It is darling! Where ever did you get it?

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  56. Never mind - I found the whisk! http://www.modcloth.com/shop/tabletop/woodland-critter-whisks-in-bunny

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