Being an accounting of the recent and continuing pandemic and its various circumstances, from the perspective of an inhabitant of the regions lately called the Lost Quarter. Dates unknown.

Day Twenty Seven

What is a recipe? A collection of ingredients and instructions. What could be simpler? And yet from that comes wonders.

Confusion as well. For many recipes handed down from father to son, mother to daughter, contain annotations, revisions, substitutions, and almost philosophical musings. Sometimes in a single recipe there are contrary ingredients and instructions, as though some great schism in the faith had opened up. Caution and prudence are necessary on such occasions for the way forward is a battleground filled with unexploded ordinance just waiting for to trip you up.

In the end though there is only one way to know which aspects to follow and that is to try and see the results for yourself. Here is a recipe for biscuits that has survived such wars, crossed oceans of time and space, and continues to delight.

2 cups flour

2 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2/3 tsp salt

4 Tablespoon lard

1 tsp sugar

Buttermilk

Put the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cut in lard until crumbly. Add buttermilk until dough is moistened. Put on a lightly floured surface and knead gently 8-10 times. Roll or pat to 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. Cut into squares with a knife. Place on pan. Bake at 400 F for 12 to 15 minutes until browned.