Smoked Salmon and Cheddar Cheese Biscuits Recipe

Salty and cheesy with an orange tint from the carrot juice; these biscuits are splendid as well as nutritious and a worthy replacement for cookies as an after school snack during this festive Halloween season. It’s fun to watch the kids decorate the biscuits and gobble them up fresh out of the oven!

Yield: 12 large biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 stick (2 ounces) cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus more for brushing
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup finely diced smoked salmon
• 1/2 cup carrot juice2 eggs, beaten

Decorate:

• 12 black or green olives

Brush on Top:

•  2 tablespoons butter, melted
•  ½ teaspoon paprika powder

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour with the sugar, baking powder, salt and paprika.
3. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or two knives, until it's the size of large peas.
4. Stir in the cheese and salmon and make a well in the center.
5. In a small bowl, combine the carrot juice and eggs. Pour the liquid into the well and quickly stir until the dough is well combined and holds together.
6. Drop dough in 12 equal mounds about 2 inches apart onto a buttered large baking sheet.
7. Flatten with fork and decorate with olive pieces.
8. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 18 to 20 minutes.
9. When biscuits come out of the oven, use a brush to spread butter/paprika over the tops of all the biscuits. Serve hot.

Submitted by Valerie Sinesky