Spiced Pecan Drop Biscuits

                      
 
                         SPICED PECAN DROP BISCUITS
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 14   Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Breads
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    2 3/4   c            Unsifted all-purpose flour
      1/4   c            Unsifted cake flour
    1       tb           Baking pwdr.
    1       t            Baking soda
      1/2   ts           Cream of tartar
    1 1/2   ts           Salt
    1       tb           Cinnamon
    1 1/2   ts           Freshly grated nutmeg
      3/4   ts           Ground ginger
      1/4   ts           Allspice
      1/4   c            (+1 tb.)granulated sugar
      3/4   c            Solid shortening
    1 1/2   c            Buttermilk
      2/3   c            Chopped pecans
      2/3   c            Dark raisins
 
   Preheat oven to 425 F . Butter and flour a cookie
   sheet or jelly roll pan. Thoroughly mix flours, baking
   powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, cinnamon,
   nutmeg, ginger, allspice and sugar in a lge. mixing
   bowl.  Add shortening and using two round-bladed
   kniver, cut into small lumps.
   
   With fingertips, reduce lumps to small bits, rubbing
   into flour mixture. Blend in buttermilk, pecans and
   raisins with a few quick strokes.  DO NOT
   OVERMIX--BISCUITS WILL BE TOUGH.
   
   Drop heaping tablespoon mounds of dough onto baking
   pan, spacing abt. 2" apart. Bake the biscuits for 15
   minutes, or until firm and golden. Transfer the pan of
   biscuits to a rack to cool for  min.  Serve
   immediately, or cool completely and store in an
   airtight container in refrigerator.
   
   Yield:  14  3"-biscuits.