Spicy Cheddar Biscuits

I love biscuits.  You love biscuits.  It isn’t a big jump to fall in-love with cheesy biscuits, right?  I have a fantastic recipe for baking powder biscuits that I have loved since I was a little girl.  I can whip up a batch of those babies in less time than it takes for the oven to pre-heat, and the taste difference between homemade biscuits and that Pillsbury crap is remarkable.  So, I find myself making biscuits whenever the urge strikes.  Today, that biscuit craving was coupled with a strong desire for green chilies and cheesy goodness…and a new recipe was born.

Spicy Cheddar Biscuits

Preheat oven to 450′

2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons Emeril’s Essence

1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk
1 small can green chilies, drained
1 1/2 – 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

paprika, for garnish

Sift flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and Emeril’s Essence together.  Cut in shortening with pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly.  Stir in milk and green chilies with a fork, add cheese and stir to combine (it should be really thick).  Using 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle generously with paprika and bake 15-18 minutes, or until biscuits are crispy in places on the outside, and the center is cooked.  Recipe makes 9-10 biscuits.