Cheddar-polenta Biscuits With Ham Salad

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 11 mins Cook Time: 19 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking polenta
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, packed
• 1 cup milk
• 2 scallions, and light green parts, chopped
• 1 small celery rib, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 small jalapeno, seeded and quartered
• 1/2 lb sliced smoked ham, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 425°f degrees.
• 2 lightly grease a large baking sheet.
• 3 in a bowl, combine the flour, polenta, baking powder, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
• 4 using 2 table knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• 5 add the cheddar, then stir in the milk until the dough is moistened.
• 6 using 2 large soup spoons, scoop 8 mounds onto the baking sheet.
• 7 lightly press down on each mound.
• 8 bake the biscuits for about 19 minutes, until the tops are golden and the bottoms are browned.
• 9 transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly.
• 10 in a mini food processor, pulse the scallions, celery and jalapeño until finely chopped.
• 11 add the ham; pulse just until finely chopped.
• 12 pulse in the mayonnaise and mustard; season lightly with salt and pepper.
• 13 slice the biscuits; fill with the salad; serve.
• 14 *if you don't have time to make both the biscuits & the salad, in this menu, the ham salad is terrific served on pita bread or crostini cut from a baguette.