Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake

By SharonE

I believe I got this recipe years ago from _Sunset Magazine_

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus about 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. grated lemon peel (colored part only)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter, cut into chunks
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 2 quarts strawberries, sliced, sweetened with sugar (if necessary)

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, lemon peel, soda and salt. With a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture looks mealy. Combine yolks and butttermilk to blend, then add to flour mixture and stir with a fork until dough holds together.



On a floured board, knead dough with floured hands just until smooth, 15 to 20 turns. Reflour board and pat out dough 1 inch thick. Cut into 6 circles with a floured 2 1/2-to-3 inch round cutter, gathering and repatting scraps as needed. Lift onto an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle each with 1 tsp. sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven until deep golden, 12-14 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool 30 minutes. Top shortcakes with strawberry and whipped cream, if desired.