VIRGINIA HAM BISCUITS (12)

2 cups flour

1 generous tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons cold butter

¾ cup milk

24 very thin slices of Virginia ham (about 2 inches in diameter)

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1.   Mix together dry ingredients and sift.

2.   Add butter in bits and work into dry ingredients by hand until mixture is lump free.

3.   Stir in milk quickly, mixing by hand to form a soft dough.

4.  Transfer dough onto a lightly floured board and press down by hand to around ¾ inch thickness; even out dough by hand.

5.   Cut dough into 2 inch biscuit rounds and arrange on a lightly greased baking sheet.

6.   Brush the tops of the rounds lightly with milk and bake at 425* for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.

7.   Let the biscuits cool on racks, split them and, if desired, spread them with unsalted butter.  Put 2 very thin slices of ham on each biscuit, reform them and serve immediately as hors d’oeuvres.

adapted from The White House Family Cookbook