Gene Hovis's Strawberry Shortcake

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Step 2

   Put the flour, baking powder and sugar into a sifter. Sift the mixture into a mixing bowl.

3. Step 3

   Add the butter and work with the fingers until well blended. Make a well in the center and add the sour cream, eggs and vanilla.

4. Step 4

   Blend well with the fingers. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead briefly.

5. Step 5

   Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a circle about 12 inches in diameter and about ½ inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter about 3 inches in diameter, cut the dough into rounds. As the rounds are cut arrange them on an ungreased baking sheet an inch or so apart. Gather up the remaining scraps of dough and roll out. Cut out more rounds. Continue rolling and cutting until all the dough is used. There should be 12 to 16 rounds.

6. Step 6

   Place in the oven and bake 15 minutes.

7. Step 7

   Meanwhile, pick over the strawberries. Pick out about 12 to 16 perfect, unstemmed berries and set them aside. Remove and discard the stems from the remaining berries and cut them in half. There should be about 4½ cups. Put the berries in a bowl.

8. Step 8

   Add the lemon juice and sugar and blend well. Cover and refrigerate.

9. Step 9

   Split the biscuits in half. Arrange half of them on a serving dish.

10. Step 10

    Whip the cream. Using a pastry bag and star tube, pipe stars of whipped cream around the inside rim of each biscuit half. Fill the inside of the ring with the sweetened strawberry halves.

11. Step 11

    Top each serving with the remaining biscuit halves. Pipe whipped cream around the inside rim of each. Fill the centers with more of the sweetened strawberries. Arrange the filled pieces on a serving dish. Garnish each serving with one of the reserved whole strawberries.