Recipe of the Week: Cheese Biscuits like Jim 'n Nick's

Jim 'n Nick's Bar-B-Q  is a regional chain that makes some good food, including this short list of my personal faves:

• yummy fresh fried green tomatoes in season (a compliment I don't hand out lightly); 
• terrific smoked turkey (their pig-in-the-garden-patch salad with smoked turkey is my usual choice all year 'round); and
• delectable cheese "biscuits" (really more like muffins) which they serve up hot and fresh while you're waiting for your entrees to arrive.

It's a good thing they're generous with those muffin-biscuits, because our family tends to devour them as soon as the server plunks down the basket.  If we're feeling bold, we just ask for a double portion to start with and save the waiter a trip.

This make-at-home version is a pretty decent rendition.  (A copycat recipe can be found on several recipe sites, but I prefer a less-sweet version, so here's my homage to Jim 'n Nick's.)

Cheese-y Biscuits/Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk (or half milk and half buttermilk)
1 egg, beaten well
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted


Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.  Generously grease 24 mini-muffin tins.

Mix dry ingredients together, then quickly fold in wet ingredients just until moistened.  Spoon into muffin tins; bake for 10-15 minutes or until top springs back or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Do not over-bake.  Serve warm.

Happy biscuit-baking!