Buttermilk Coconut Pie Food

THE BEST FLAKY BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Rub 2 tablespoons of the cold butter into the flour with your fingertips until completely absorbed. Work the remaining 8 tablespoons of cold butter into the flour with your fingertips until pea-size bits of butter remain. Use a rubber spatula to stir the buttermilk into the flour until the mixture comes together into a shaggy dough. (Don't overmix the dough.)
• Lightly flour a cutting board or work surface, turn the dough out onto it and pat into a rectangle. Fold the dough in half and pat again into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Then fold the dough in thirds, as if folding a letter, and pat to an even thickness. Cut out biscuits with a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter and put on the prepared baking sheet. Press together the remaining scraps of dough. Pat out and fold the dough into thirds again and cut out more biscuits. Brush the biscuit tops with buttermilk.
• Bake until the tops are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool on the pan at least 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

THE BEST BUTTERMILK WAFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat a waffle iron to medium-high.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Whisk the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until a batter is formed. Whisk in the butter until incorporated, being careful not to overmix the batter.
• Spray both sides of the preheated waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Pour in enough batter to lightly cover the surface of the iron, about 1/3 to 3/4 cup, depending on its size. (Take into consideration that the batter will spread once the lid is closed.) Close the iron and cook until the waffles are a deep golden brown and slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter. (If the waffle iron has a well-seasoned or nonstick surface, it may not be necessary to spray it between each batch.)
• Serve the waffles immediately with butter, syrup, jam, berries or yogurt.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Toss the chicken, buttermilk and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate, 1 hour.
• Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360.
• Mix the flour, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Remove the dark meat from the buttermilk, shake off the excess and roll in the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour, place in the hot oil and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, about 15 minutes (adjust the heat as needed). Drain on paper towels.
• Reheat the oil to 360 degrees F. Repeat with the chicken breasts and wings, frying for about 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

THE BEST BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and melted butter in a medium bowl until incorporated. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (it's OK if there are a few lumps).
• Heat a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium heat; lightly brush with butter. Pour 1/2 cup batter onto the griddle for each pancake and cook until bubbles form on top and the bottom is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. (If the pancakes are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to medium-low.) Flip and continue cooking until golden on the other side, about 1 more minute. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, brushing the pan with more butter as necessary. Serve with butter and syrup.

BUTTERMILK MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes and cut them into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Add them to the boiling water and bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, making sure it doesn't boil. Set aside until the potatoes are done.
• As soon as the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Place a food mill fitted with a small disk/blade over a heatproof bowl. Pass the potatoes through the food mill, turning the handle back and forth. As soon as the potatoes are mashed, stir in the hot milk mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula. Add enough buttermilk to make the potatoes creamy. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and the pepper, and serve hot. To keep the potatoes warm, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water for up to 30 minutes. You can add a little extra hot milk to keep them creamy.

HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK

Steps:

• Place the vinegar in a glass-measuring cup, and add enough milk to make 1 cup total liquid. Stir to combine and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes (The mixture will begin to curdle).
• Use as needed in a recipe, or cover and refrigerate until needed.