Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake (Recipe)

Ingredients

Shortcakes:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shortening, butter or margarine

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine

2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine (optional)

Topping:

2 quarts fresh strawberries, hulled, rinsed and sliced (8 cups) or three 10-ounce package frozen strawberries, thawed

1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 450°.

2. To make the shortcakes: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Using a pasrty blender, cut in the shortening, butter or margarine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Add the milk to the flour mixture and stir just until moistened.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 20 times.

5. Roll or pat the dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness.  With a 3-inch round cutter, cut the dough into circles.  Place half of the circles on an ungreased baking sheet and brush them well with the 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine.  Top with the remaining dough circles.

6. Bake the shortcakes in the 450° oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from the oven.

7. To assemble: Separate the shortcake halves and spread them with the 2 tablespoons softened butter or margarine, if desired.  Place the bottom halves on serving plates. Spoon half of the strawberries over the bottom halves of the shortcakes.  Layer on the top halves of the shortcakes.  Spoon on the remaining strawberries.  Serve while the shortcakes are till warm, topped with the whipped cream.

Tips:

If you don't have a round cutter, pat the dough into a rectangle and use a sharp knife to cut 3-inch squares.

You can make the shortcakes using an alternative method.  Knead the dough and roll out or pat to a 1/2-inch thickness.  Cut and bake the biscuits as directed.  Before assembling split the biscuits in half and proceed with the assembly.

For a juicer strawberry topping, combine the strawberries and 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar (depending on the natural sweetness of the berries) and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the mixture to become juicy.  Lightly mash about half of the berries, then stir all of the berries together.