Bacon Cheddar Biscuits

I have made the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and I've made Bacon Puffs! I've tried a lot of combinations including biscuits with bacon, but I've never been satisfied with the bacon flavor in the biscuit itself. Well, last night the light bulb went off! Take out the oil and substitute the grease/oil rendered from cooking the bacon! No one can yell at me about this one, because you are only subbing one oil for another! Nothing wrong with bacon "oil"! :-)

2 cups All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoons Salt
1/4 cup Crisco Shortening
2/3 cup Milk
1/4 cup Bacon Grease*
1 Egg
1 pound Bacon, fried and crumbled**
1/2 cup Onion, diced small
1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a fork or your hands, cut in shortening until all combined. Add the bacon, onions, and cheddar cheese to the flour mixture and stir to coat with flour.
Combine milk, bacon grease, and egg in a separate bowl. Whisk together.
Combine flour mixture and milk mixture in a large bowl. Stir gently until all combined.
Spoon batter into greased mini muffin tins. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes on 375 degrees until golden brown. Remove from pan onto a wire rack. Cover with a towel and serve warm.

* Reserve the grease after cooking the bacon and cool.

 ** I only use one cup of crumbles bacon, but the guys eat some every time. So, I cook the entire package!

Vidalia Upside Down Cornbread

Here's a twist on your usual cornbread. It's great with a big ole bowl of chili or chowder! Yum!!! When Vidalia Onions are not in season, I use any sweet onion. They all work, but my favorite is the Vidalia! 

I didn't quite let the onions cook long enough.
I should have put them on the

bottom rack to get more color.

1 stick butter, melted
3 large Vidalia onion, sliced 1/2 inch thick
   (or enough to cover the bottom of the pan)
3 (8 ounce) packages cornbread mix
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup whole milk
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a 13x9 pan, add melted butter and onion slices. Bake for 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the cornbread mix, egg, milk, sour cream, cheese, and salt. Remove the onions from the oven and add the cornbread mix over the top. Bake for 30 minutes, until set and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. Loosen the edges with a knife and invert on a serving plate. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into squares.

This is a mini version,

I made in my little cast iron skillet!