Biscuit....

Our word for today is biscuit. I love this word because it has a cluster of meanings. First it's a food. A biscuit is a British cookie. Here's a site that rates 21 of them, with phrases such as,

"As British as Michael Caine, roundabouts and glaring at but not saying anything to people who jump the queue, these are little pieces of perfection...

My husband's aunt, always served her shortbread biscuits with Sherry - a nice touch! I only make cookies (biscuits) at Christmas, when I make so many we're still eating them on Valentines Day.

In North America, a biscuit is a slightly leavened savoury scone. It's a staple in dishes, such as, chicken and biscuits. My local Second Cup, before it closed, often sold cheese scones (biscuits), I prefer cranberry, but I would buy cheese, over Blueberry with white chocolate - too sweet.

However, for a biscuit that's really savoury, it should be a "bisque," which is a soup of French origin.
Wikipedia says,

"It is thought the name is derived from Biscay, as in Bay of Biscay,^[2] but the crustaceans are certainly bis cuites "twice cooked" (by analogy to a biscuit) for they are first sautéed lightly in their shells, then simmered in wine and aromatic ingredients, before being strained, followed by the addition of cream."

I have had the traditional lobster bisque only once. However, I do make pureed soups often. I always make a tomato "bisque" from the fresh tomatoes in the garden. Yesterday, I even made a cooked cucumber and avocado soup, from two runaway cucumbers I found in the weeds. It was delicious! I think, I have to do some shrimp or even smoked salmon bisques, when I need a little Paris in my life!

Finally, biscuit is also another name for porcelain, particularly, unglazed porcelain, biscuit ware, used for various types of pottery, figurines, and the delicate faces of antique dolls.

I am fascinated with dolls. I was given a doll every year I can remember, until the age of 12. I still have my mother's doll. I have books on dolls - how to dress them, how to make their fine porcelain heads and how to assemble their articulated bodies. I also have books on cloth dolls, again how to sew them, stuff them and embroider their whimsical faces. I have knit period costumes for barbie dolls and I may just have to buy this book of paper dolls from the Yves St. Laurent collection - not bisque, but I can dream.

The pictures? Bits of biscuits and bisque.

Have a charming day!