Guilty Wife Almond Basil Biscuits

These biscuits name their own occasion (ahem) and are custom-made for Jeremy who fancies almond pastries. I added the basil on a whim, thinking that it seemed to be a good companion for the almond flavour. They're a lovely pair.

This is different base recipe than what I usually use as it contains self-rising flour, which I happened to have on hand. (You can easily find this in any grocery store.) It was invented in 1845 by an English baker named Henry Jones, and has baking powder, the leavening agent which adds tiny gas bubbles and makes your baked goods more airy and soft, and the salt already mixed in. Here's a fascinating article from The Bristol Illustrated News (thanks to the flickr blogger for this!) that explains Jones' trials in getting his self-rising flour into popular use by the Admiralty. Interestingly, Florence Nightengale's advocacy of his invention during the Crimean War was a major reason for its popularity and success.)

Guilty Wife Almond Basil Biscuits
Preheat Oven to 450°F

2 cups self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 Tablespoons almond paste, chopped into small chunks
1 teaspoon sugar
3 Tablespoons fresh basil, cut into thin strips
1/3 cup coarsely crushed whole or slivered almonds
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 Tablespoon pure almond extract

In a large mixing bowl, blend self-rising flour and butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Chop almond paste into small chunks. (I keep my almond paste block in the fridge, so it's easier to chop up.) Add almond paste chunks and remaining ingredients, pouring in the buttermilk last, and stir until just combined.

Coat 2 baking trays with butter and spoon mixture into 18-20 piles, about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 8 minutes or until lightly golden in colour. Remove from trays immediately to prevent the bottoms from burning and put them on a cooling rack.

Some almond fun facts from wikipedia:
A sample of the almond fruit was found in Tutankhamun's Tomb (c. 1325 BC), having made its way along the Mediterranean to Northern Africa.

California is the only place in the USA where almonds are grown for major commerce. Nearly 1 million beehives are brought by truck to the groves annually to pollinate the trees.

Listen to this while eating these:
"I'm Sorry" performed by Brenda Lee


Tasters:
Jeremy Beck and yours truly