Savory Mediterranean Biscuits

Total Time: 22 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine
• 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup kalamata olive, pitted and chopped
• 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and snipped
• 3/4 cup light cream or 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon light cream or 1 tablespoon half-and-half
• kalamata olive, whole (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a medium mixing bowl, stir together the first five ingredients (flour through salt). using a pastry blender, cut in butter or margarine until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. next, stir in the cheese, chopped olives, and tomatoes.
• 2 make a well in the center of the dry mixture and quickly pour 3/4 cup light cream or half and half over it. stir with a fork until just moistened.
• 3 turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. quickly knead by gently folding and pressing the dough until it's almost smooth. this should take about 10-12 strokes. be careful not to over-knead as the biscuits will get tough. the dough will still be pretty soft.
• 4 lightly roll out dough into a 10-inch by 8-inch rectangle, about half an inch in thickness. cut the dough into 2-inch squares.
• 5 arrange biscuits 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. in a small bowl, beat egg yolk with the tablespoon of light cream or half and half, then brush the top of each biscuit with this mixture.
• 6 bake in a 450 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are golden. remove from baking sheet and serve warm with whole kalamata olives, if you like.