Cornmeal-sage Biscuits And Sausage Gravy

Total Time: 42 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (1 green onion)
• 1 teaspoon finely snipped fresh sage or 1/4 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk (or sour milk or 1 cup milk)
• 1 recipe sausage gravy
• chopped green onion (optional)
• 1 1/2 lbs bulk lamb sausage
• 1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• salt & fresh ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 450 degrees f. in a large bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, salt, the 2 tablespoons green onion, and the sage. using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. make a well in the center of the flour mixture. add buttermilk all at once. using a fork, stir just until moistened.
• 2 turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. knead dough by folding and gently pressing it just until dough holds together. pat or lightly roll dough until 3/4 inch thick. cut dough with a floured 2 1/2-inch round cutter; reroll scraps as necessary. dip cutter into flour between cuts.
• 3 place dough rounds 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden. remove biscuits from baking sheet. cool slightly.
• 4 to serve, split biscuits and place on serving plates. top with sausage gravy. if desired, top with additional green onions.
• 5 sausage gravy:.
• 6 in a very large skillet cook bulk lamb sausage and chopped onion over medium-high heat until meat is brown and onion is tender, using a wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks. do not drain.
• 7 sprinkle all-purpose flour over meat mixture; stir into the meat mixture. cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute. while whisking, gradually add milk. cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. cook and stir for 1 minute more. season with salt and pepper. stir in snipped fresh thyme, if desired. makes about 5 cups.
• 8 to make ahead:.
• 9 prepare biscuits as directed; cool completely. place biscuits in a resealable plastic freezer bag; seal, label, and freeze for up to 2 months.
• 10 prepare sausage gravy as directed. place in an airtight container; seal and chill for up to 48 hours. to serve, thaw biscuits at room temperature (allow about 2 hours). if desired, preheat oven to 350 degrees f. place biscuits on a baking sheet. bake for 10 minutes. in a medium saucepan reheat sausage gravy over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. if necessary, stir in additional milk to make desired consistency.