Rich Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake Food

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Mix strawberries and 1 cup sugar in a bowl and allow to stand while you complete remaining steps. Stir occasionally to help juice form.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8-inch round baking pan.
• Combine flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; cut in shortening with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir milk into crumb mixture until just blended; pour into prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes; cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing shortcake.
• Split shortcake into two layers; spread bottom layer with 2 tablespoons softened butter and top with strawberries and juice. Place top layer over strawberries. Serve with whipped cream.

RICH OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the scones: preheat the oven to 425°. Line a small heavy baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, ¼ cup sugar, baking powder and salt and stir with a fork to blend. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until the largest pieces are no larger than fat peas. If the butter seems to be getting too warm, pop the whole bowl into the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm it up.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg, then stir in the milk and the 5 tablespoons of cream. Add this mixture all at once to the flour-butter mixture and use your fingers to incorporate the wet ingredients. The dough will be very sticky and floppy, but don't overwork it. Once the dry ingredients are evenly moistened, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board.
• Gently pat the dough into a rough square about 7 inches all around and ¾ to 1 inch thick. (This is where the expression "Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake ... " came from!) Use a 3-inch biscuit or cookie cutter, or an overturned glass, to cut 4 rounds from the dough, dipping the cutter or glass rim in flour before each cut. Transfer the rounds to the baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart and re-pat the scraps of dough together. Cut one or two more rounds and repeat this process if necessary. You should end up with 6 rounds.
• Brush the tops of the scones with the reserved cream and sprinkle with the tablespoon of sugar. Bake in the centre of the oven for 14 to 18 minutes, or until the tops are tinged with golden-brown and are crisp. Cool the scones on the baking sheet set on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before splitting and filling. (The scones are best if eaten as soon after baking as possible, but can be made several hours ahead of time and re-warmed in a moderate oven for a few minutes before assembling.)
• While the scones are baking, prepare the strawberries. Cut 1 quart of the strawberries in half and set aside. Cut the remaining quart of strawberries into rough pieces and sprinkle with the 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar, stirring to coat. Let the fruit macerate for at least 20 minutes, and up to 1 hour, at room temperature. Just before serving, use a fork or an old-fashioned potato masher to lightly crush the macerating berries, leaving some chunky pieces, but creating a rough berry sauce.
• Prepare the Chantilly Cream: in a large bowl, combine the 2 cups cream and 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and beat until the cream is in billowy mounds. Refrigerate until needed, up to 1 hour. (The cream can be prepared several hours ahead, but may need to be re-whipped slightly before serving.)
• To assemble the shortcakes, split the scones in half horizontally and place one warm bottom on each of 6 dessert plates. Spoon some of the crushed berries over the biscuits, including the runny juices. Scoop a generous dollop of Chantilly Cream over the crushed berries and top with a handful of the reserved halved strawberries. Place a biscuit top over the whole gorgeous pile and serve at once. No one ever said it was an elegant dessert, but it is definitely one of the most satisfying.
• VARIATIONS
• Lemon-Poppyseed Shortcakes with Blackberries: Add 2 teaspoons tightly packed, finely grated lemon zest, and 1½ tablespoons poppyseeds to the biscuit dough just after the egg-milk mixture has been added. Substitute blackberries for the strawberries, if desired, increasing the macerating sugar to 5 tablespoons.
• Cardamom Shortcakes with Strawberries and Lemon Cream: Add 1 teaspoon ground cardamom to the flour mixture before adding the butter. Omit the vanilla extract from the Chantilly Cream and substitute 2 tightly packed teaspoons of finely grated lemon zest and ¼ teaspoon lemon oil, optional.

GRANDMA'S OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Combine strawberries with sugar and vanilla; mash slightly. Let stand at least 30 minutes, tossing occasionally., Preheat oven to 400°. For shortcakes, whisk together flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add buttermilk; stir just until combined (do not overmix). Drop batter by 1/3 cupfuls 2 in. apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. Brush with 2 tablespoons heavy cream; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until golden, 18-20 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For topping, beat heavy whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. To serve, cut shortcakes in half; top with strawberries and whipped cream.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE OLD FASHIONED STYLE!

Steps:

• Wash and hull the strawberries; drain.
• Place the berries in a large bowl, and sprinkle with sugar, cover and refrigerate (1 hour preferably).
• Prepare the shortcake.
• Set oven to 375°F.
• Grease 2 large baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar (if you prefer your shortcake less sweet, just use 1/2 cup sugar), baking powder and salt.
• With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the cold butter until particles are the size of small peas.
• Stir in egg, milk and extract (if using); mix ONLY to combine (same method as for making biscuits).
• On a lightly floured surface, gather up 1/2 cup dough per biscuit.
• Pat dough into 8 (4-inch) rounds.
• Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown; cool slightly (can fill with the whipped cream and strawberries when cake is still warm (it is actually the best this way!).
• In a bowl, beat the whipping cream (can use more than the 3 cups of whipping cream if desired, just increase the sugar a little) with 4 tbsp sugar until stiff peaks form.
• To serve, split the baked shortcakes into halves.
• Ladle strawberries in the middle and on top of the shortcake.
• Top with whipped cream.
• Delicious!

RICH STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Shortcake: Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Sift together the dry ingredients; cut in the butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs.
• Combine egg, cream and orange zest.
• Add egg mixture to dry mixture, stirring only to moisten.
• Spread dough into a greased 9" round pan, slightly building up dough around the edges.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.
• Strawberries: Hull and quarter one pound of strawberries.
• Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of sugar and pour in 1/4 cup orange juice.
• Toss gently and store covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Whipped Cream: Pour 1 cup heavy cream into mixing bowl.
• Start mixer on low and slowly add sifted powdered sugar.
• Continue to mix on medium speed until cream begins to thicken.
• Add vanilla and mix to combine. DO NOT OVER MIX! (We don't want butter!).
• Store covered in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Assemble shortcakes by splitting shortcake, spreading bottom half with butter, topping with strawberries and whipped cream, then top with top half of shortacke. Cut into wedges and serve with more whipped cream.

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Place the berries in a colander and quickly rinse them under running cold water. Pour them on a pan or tray lined with several thicknesses of paper towel to drain for 5 minutes. Hull the strawberries with the point of a stainless steel paring knife, then slice them into a bowl. Sprinkle with the sugar and lemon juice, then set aside, covered at room temperature for an hour or two.
• Whip the cream (add a couple of tablespoons of sugar, if you like) until it holds a soft peak, cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and set rack in the middle level.
• In a food processor combine the self-rising flour and sugar and pulse to mix. Add the butter, cut into 8 to 10 pieces, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and make a well in the center. With a fork stir in the buttermilk, being careful not to over work the dough. Let the dough stand for a minute or 2 to let the flours absorb the liquid. Flour the work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Fold the dough over on itself 2 or 3 times, until it is smooth and less sticky.
• For a large shortcake, pat the dough into a 9-inch disk on parchment-lined cookie sheet. For individual shortcakes, pat the dough into a 6 by 12-inch rectangle and cut into 8 (3-inch) biscuits with a sharp, floured round cutter. Transfer to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Paint the tops with the buttermilk and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. Check the center of the large shortcake with a toothpick to make sure it has baked through. If the pick emerges with dough clinging to it, lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake another 5 minutes.
• Slide the large shortcake onto a platter immediately after it is baked. Use a sharp, serrated knife to slice through the middle, making two layers. Slide the edge of a cookie sheet between the two layers and lift the top layer off. Butter the bottom layer and pour on all but 1/2 cup of the berries.
• Slide the top back on and pour the remaining berries on the top. Split the small shortcakes in the same way and place the bottoms on individual dessert plates. Butter them and top with about 1/3 cup berry mixture. Replace tops and pour a tablespoon or so on the top. Serve immediately, passing the cream in a bowl for the guests to help themselves.

OLD-FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly butter a baking sheet. Sift the flour, ¼ cup of the sugar, and the baking powder into a bowl. Add the butter pieces. Using your fingertips, work the butter quickly and lightly into the flour until the mixture is the consistency of very fine bread crumbs or sand. Add the cream and egg yolks and stir with a fork until the dough just holds together.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead briefly, just until it forms a smooth dough. Do not overwork. Pat or roll out the dough to a thickness of ¾ inch. Using a floured 2 ½ or 3 inch cookie cutter, cut out 4 rounds of dough. Gather up the dough scraps, re-roll and cut out 2 more rounds. Put the rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with the melted butter and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and firm to the touch.
• Meanwhile, put the strawberries in a bowl and toss them with the sugar. In a medium bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Cover and refrigerate. Transfer the biscuits to a rack and let cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully split the biscuits in half and set the tops aside. Place the bottoms on dessert plates and heap the strawberries onto them. Generously spoon whipped cream over the strawberries, and replace the biscuit tops. Serve immediately, with any remaining whipped cream on the side.

OLD- FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease the bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans.
• In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Add the cold butter and cut in with 2 knives or a pastry blender to coarse-crumb consistency.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the milk until fully combined. Gradually stir the egg and milk mixture into the flour mixture. Knead the dough for no more than a minute on a lightly floured board. Pat half the dough into each cake pan. Brush the surfaces with the melted butter. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Turn the shortcake layers out onto cooling racks.
• While the layers are cooling, wash the strawberries and remove the hulls. Reserve a few berries for garnish. Cut the large berries in half and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup sugar. Let stand for about 30 minutes.
• Spoon half of the berries with their juice over one shortcake layer. Place the second layer on top and spoon the remaining berries and juice over it. Top with whipped cream.

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients; cut in shortening, add milk.
• to make soft dough, smooth out lightly, bake in greased deep layer cake tin in hot oven 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees.
• Or bake as muffins for single serve size. Serve with berries of your choice and Cool Whip.

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH SWEETENED FLAVOURED WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt together.
• Work in fat with your fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in milk gradually.
• Place dough on a lightly floured board.
• Divide into 2 parts and roll each part to fit a round cake pan.
• Place first layer into lightly greased cake tin.
• Brush the dough with melted butter, then place second layer over top.
• Bake at 400f degrees for 20 minutes.
• Reserve approximately 12 choice berries for the top.
• Mash the remaining berries slightly, stir in sugar and place sweetened berries beween layers.
• Cover the top layer with sweetened flavoured whipped cream and garnish with whole berries.
• Note: The biscuit dough may be rolled and cut into round shapes as for tea biscuits, then split into halves for strawberry or peach shortcake.
• Sweetened flavoured whipped cream: Beat the cream until thick.
• Fold in sugar and vanilla.

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH GRAND MARNIER CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda.
• Stir in orange rind.
• Cut in butter until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
• Stir in enough buttermilk (roughly 3/4 cup) until dough clings together.
• Place dough on a floured board and knead 4 or 5 times.
• Roll or pat into 8" round.
• Place on cookie sheet.
• Brush with the 1 Tbsp buttermilk and sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on rack, then split into two horizontally.
• In bowl, mix strawberries and 1/2 cup sugar.
• Let sit for 30 minutes.
• Just before serving, whip cream along with 2 Tbsp sugar until cream forms stiff peaks.
• Fold in sour cream and Grand Marnier.
• To serve, spread bottom cake layer with 3/4 of cream mixture.
• Top with 3/4 of the strawberries.
• Put the second cake layer on top and decorate with the remaining cream and strawberries.