*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                             MASA BISCUITS

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 12   Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Breads                           Mexican

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  3 3/4   c            Unbleached A-P flour
  1 1/2   c            Masa harina de maiz
  2       tb           Plus 1 ts baking powder
  1       t            Salt
  4       oz           Unsalted butter, well-chill
                       -cut into small pieces
    1/2   c            Solid vegetable shortening,
                       -well-chilled, cut into
                       -small pieces
  2       c            Cultured buttermilk,chilled

 Position racks in the upper and middle thirds of the
 oven and preheat the oven to 450F.

 In a large bowl, stir together 3 1/2 cups of the
 flour, the masa, baking powder, and salt.  With a
 pastry cutter, blend in the butter and shortening
 until the mixture resembles a coarse and slightly
 lumpy meal. Stir in the buttermilk until a soft,
 crumbly dough is formed.  Sprinkle the work surface
 with half of the remaining flour.  Turn the dough out,
 gather it into a ball, and briefly knead it, just
 until it holds together. Flatten the dough, sprinkle
 it with the rest of the flour, and roll it out about
 1-inch thick.  With a round 3-inch cutter, form the
 biscuits, transferrring them to 2 ungreased baking
 sheets and spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gather
 the scraps into a ball, roll it out to 1-inch thick,
 and cut out the remaining biscuits.

 Set the baking sheets on the racks and bake about 15
 minutes, exchanging the position of the sheets on the
 racks from top to bottom and from front to back at the
 halfway point, or until the biscuits are golden and
 crisp. Serve hot or warm.

 Note: masa is NOT the same thing as cornmeal.  Stores
 catering to Hispanic population will have masa.  Since
 masa contains no gluten, these biscuits are especially
 tender.



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