Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Sweet Potato Angel Biscuits...& another Give-Away

Angel biscuits are something I learned to make from my mother.  It was her way of having a quick yeast roll with little effort; in fact, it's also known as Bride's Biscuits because of the ease in making them up the first time she attempts a yeast bread:-)

Sweet potato is my addition, although, she love to bake sweet potato pies, but never thought about using them in breads.  I think they're just as fall as pumpkin and certainly adds a lot of nutritional value to these biscuits.  They are a root vegetable that, in addition, to being a simple starch, it is a complex carbohydrate, rich in beta carotene, dietary fiber, and Vitamins A, C, and B6.  

It was the first vegetable that Ari was given as a baby--his mama made it up in the Beeba Baby Food Processor.  He loved them!
Ari sitting on Bailey's perch, looking out at the snow (Christmas 2008)
Sweet Potato Angel Biscuits
5 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 cup shortening
2 large sweet potatoes, roasted, peeled, and mashed
2 T (2 pkg) dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110F-degrees)
1 tsp. honey

4 T butter, melted (for brushing the baking pan and the tops of the biscuits)

Preheat oven to 400F-degrees with a baking stone. Wash and poke holes into the sweet potatoes.  
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, testing with a fork or knife tip when they're soft enough. The skin should look shriveled.  Don't turn off the oven!
  Allow them to cool enough to handle, then peel and mash.
In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, add the dry ingredients and mix on low.  Meanwhile, in a 1 cup measuring cup, whisk the yeast into the warm water, adding the honey (to nourish the yeast!)
While the mixer is running on Speed #2, add the shortening, about 1 tablespoon at a time and continue mixing until it resembles coarse sand.
Add the mashed sweet potato and foamy yeast on low as the dough comes together.  Turn out onto a lightly floured bread board and knead lightly to a smooth disk.
Lightly flour the top of the dough and roll out to about 1/2-inch.  Use a 2-3 inch biscuit cutter.  Brush the baking sheet with the melted butter and place the biscuits on the sheet, just slightly apart.
Brush the tops of the biscuits with more melted butter and cover lightly with plastic wrap.
Let rest about 20 minutes--the biscuits should be almost doubled.
Bake in the 400F-degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.
They may look like biscuits, but they're light and airy like rolls.  They certainly were delicious with a potato/spinach frittata and salad on this fall evening.

Now, the next Give-Away is also something Kelly would have chosen.  Whenever we traveled and explored little shops, Kelly loved buying homemade soaps, almost to an obsession.  So, the little bundle of Goat's Milk Soaps I've made up for today's give-away accompanies a change purse with the Vera Bradley latest pattern that supports breast cancer research--Ribbons.  Together it's just another small remembrance of Kelly's generous nature.  Enjoy!

38 comments:

  1. These look so yummy! I love sweet potatoes and biscuits. I will be making these but I'm sure they won't be as beautiful as yours!
    Ari is adorable :)
    The soaps and Vera Bradley change purse are lovely!
    Now if I only had a biscuit :)
    Hugs,
    Donna

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    1. And, I wish you lived closer and we could share glorious stories of our daughters over tea and biscuits, XOXO

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  2. I love anything that even resembles a biscuit. I will be trying these, for sure. A very generous give-away. Hugs, Deb

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    1. I was thinking of you, after a day out with your "clients" and having a cuppa tea and a biscuit, which I was closer and I'd bring them over, Sis, XOXO

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  3. Your biscuits make me want to get up and bake right now! Delic!

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    1. If you could smell them, you'd probably being doing that right now:-D

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  4. Mmmmmm......Mmmmmmm! The biscuits look marvelous. And what a perfect little angel to go with the angel biscuits!

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    1. He is...most of the time! What can I say, he's a little boy:-D

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  5. Can these biscuits be made using regular potatoes? My family does not like sweet potatoes at all. I on the other hand, could eat a sweet potato every night ;-) Thanks for the recipe and giveaway.

    Jocelyn

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    1. Hi Jocelyn, actually Angel Biscuits don't usually have sweet potatoes in them--it's the addition of yeast that makes them light and quick. You can Google "Angel Biscuits" for a recipe without, but I will say, my hubby is not a big sweet potato fan and he gobbled up two for dinner; couldn't even taste the sweet potato...just had the beautiful color.

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  6. I don't bake biscuits often enough...these sweet potato babies are just gorgeous and perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea!

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    1. I had one with peach jam and was thinking how great they would be with a cuppa tea. XOXO

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  7. I just wanted to drop by and say how delicious these biscuits look. I'm looking forward to making them soon.

    Since I feel like an interloper, stopping by to make a comment on the biscuits, I graciously request to be left out of the give away. I've been looking back at some of your other posts about Kelly. I am happy that you had such a wonderful daughter and so sad about a damnable disease that robs a mother of her child and a child of is his mother.

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comments--I couldn't agree more! I love your visits and never feel like an interloper, XOXO

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  8. MMmmmm....those biscuits look wonderful! I think I'll try them this weekend! I'm loving anything sweet potato or pumpkin right now. Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway! Like your daughter did, I love homemade soaps!

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    1. They fit the season and the grey days we're having--good luck dear friend, XOXO

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  9. sweet potatoes in biscuits....great idea! Ari looks so cute up on that perch. they grow up so quick.
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yes they do! He had barely turned four back in June and already he was telling everyone, "I'm almost 5!"

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  10. Oh my gosh, the biscuits look and sound wonderful...I can almost smell them baking, yum!!! This is a recipe I will definitely be trying! Thanks for that and also thanks for a chance in your wonderful giveaway. Breast Cancer awareness is very close to my heart as I lost my mom to BC in 1976, when I was just 26 and my two daughters were to young to remember her. Now, my daughters are both in their 40's and I have 4 wonderful grandchildren (two of them adults) that she would have adored. Also wanted to mention your beautiful tribute to Kelly in your last post...so wonderful. Thank you for sharing her with us. Big Hugs...

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    1. It's a cause I continue to work for in her name with The Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Foundation. I know I've said it before, but 100% of the contributions goes to research, unlike some foundations (which I will not name) which makes sure they have a jet and highly paid administrators of the fund:-(
      I lost my mother when I was 37 and Kelly was 37 when I loss her--my life has definitely been changed by both of them, XOXO

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  11. I love the idea of Sweet Potato Biscuits, they look yummy. Thanks for sharing the biscuits and Kerry with us. I"m so sorry for your lose.

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    1. Our memories and traditions are what determines our history and sharing them with others, is what gives us purpose. Thank you for your kind words, XOXO

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  12. Oh my, I love sweet potatoes and those biscuits look divine. ANother recipe to pin to the fridge for future baking!

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  13. I love sweet potatoes! I eat baked sweet potatoes for lunch all the time. The biscuits look fantastic! I think I'm going to have to try them. Have a great day!

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  14. they look yummy will have to try them have a great weekend

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  15. I tried to make sweet potato buscuits from Paula Deen...No luck...Too dense. I have a recipe for these angel-type biscuits, but I think it calls for Wondra flour? Now, finally, Susan you have solved me dilemna: you have created the best of both worlds! You rock, my dear friend! Have a wonderful rest of your week! Lv, me.

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    1. Wondra!! I've used that years ago when I made gravy, but not for baking:-( These, I guarantee will be light and fluffy and my hubby had two more today!

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  16. Yummy I love sweet potato and the fall!
    theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  17. Susan:
    Please come link this to "Open House" ----love to have it! I have never made these but have a folder with recipes for these and will add yours to the folder. I need to make these soon!

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  18. You are very sweet and we are all remembering your sweet Kelly with you. I've lost family members to cancer so I know how terrible it can be. My heart goes out to you.
    Local sweet potatoes are in the stores right now and I had one with my chicken tonight. It was SO good! I would love to try this recipe! Hugs!

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  19. Susan...these biscuits look divine. Would be wonderful for Thanksgiving given they are light.

    Your giveaway is lovely, please count me in. Can't imagine losing loved ones at such a young age. Thank you for raising everyones awareness.

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  20. I'm not a huge fan of sweet potatoes on their own, but they sound delicious for a biscuit! Isn't that a great new print from Vera Bradley? Just gorgeous, and for such a great cause. xoxoxox

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  21. Sweet pic of Ari!
    I love baking biscuits... might have to try these! I wonder if a garnet yam would turn out as well as the sweet potatoes? I love the yams!
    Thanks for the chance at your prize! The soaps and coin purse are wonderful! What a special treat for the winner!
    DeniseB

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  22. Wow, Susan. That's a wonderful giveaway. The soaps look great and the Vera Bradley purse is super, too. Very generous of you. Kelly will love what you are doing as she looks down upon all of us from above!

    The sweet potato rolls? Mmmm mmm mmmm

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I'm always so happy when I see you visited! Susan (from Massachusetts!)

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  23. The rolls look yummy and the giveaway is a great. I found my soaps from Kelly's wedding still unopened in a drawer in my nightstand : )
    - Erin

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  24. Wow, my oldest brother loves sweet potatoes. I've not been a fan of sweet potatoes, but I bet them being in biscuits would be yummy!!

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